I’ve always loved working on machines. Growing up in California’s Santa Clarita Valley, I held the usual local jobs, but it wasn’t until I studied at the Arizona Automotive Institute and later worked at Chevrolet that I got to fulfill my passion for mechanics. That led me into aerospace, where I joined Hughes Aircraft and then Northrop Grumman, helping build the B‑2 stealth bomber. This was where I learned the importance of precision, where even a thousandth of a millimeter could mean success or failure.
When the B‑2 program ended in 1999, I shifted into building maintenance at UCLA. At the time, I didn’t realize how much that role would prepare me for a career at the U.S. Postal Service. About six years ago, I joined the Santa Clarita Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) as a custodian. I enjoyed the work, especially the outdoor projects, but I knew I had too much experience with machinery to leave it behind.
I took the USPS maintenance and technician proficiency test, scored high, and became a mail processing equipment mechanic, level 9. Nearly three years later, I can honestly say I’ve found my place. Every night, I get to apply the skills I’ve built over decades to keep high‑speed sorting machines running smoothly, and it feels good to know that my work helps keep the mail moving for the community where I was raised.
At USPS, precision counts, but the primary mission is speed. Our sorters here in the Santa Clarita P&DC process 36,000 letters per hour and every adjustment matters. I work a shift from midnight to 8 a.m., and I typically maintain three delivery barcode sorters each night.
Preventive maintenance is our focus. We run test decks, check bearings, belts and alignments, and make sure every adjustment is precise. My specialty is feeder alignment, where I ensure that each letter is picked off one at a time and sent through the system at high speed without jams or double feeds.
The training and support here are amazing. The Postal Service sends us to the USPS National Center for Employee Development in Norman, OK, where we work directly on the machines we will maintain. There are classrooms, a hotel and a conference center. In my entire career, I’ve never worked at a place that had a training facility like that.
The parts system is equally impressive. We have everything we need in stock, and even if we don’t have the right component here, we can rely on another facility to help us out. We have a whole system in place where someone from a P&DC in Fresno or even San Jose, which is 300 miles away, can meet us halfway to swap parts the same day. And we do the same for them. That’s real teamwork.
I’m also proud to serve as an on-the-job instructor. In the past year alone, I’ve trained more than 20 new mechanics. My approach is to make sure they don’t just know how to do the work, but why the machines operate the way they do. When they understand the “why,” they gain confidence, and that’s really rewarding.
Many of the trainees are just starting their careers, and they picked a great place to work. The teamwork here at USPS is second to none. My colleagues and supervisors are supportive, knowledgeable and dedicated to helping us succeed. The benefits are great, too, and if they stay for the long haul — like many of my colleagues have done — they’re going to have a great retirement.
After decades in different industries, I can honestly say I’ve never had a job that has made me this happy. I come home to my wife with a smile on my face. After six years at USPS, I know I’ve found the right place. It’s been a long road, but today, I’m exactly where I want to be.
William Strahan
Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic, Level 9
