Engineering Equipment Operator

U.S. Forest Service; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Forest Service is seeking a heavy equipment operator to support forest road systems and other program areas.

The role involves operating graders, tractors with blades, loaders, backhoes, trench diggers and large industrial tractors, with emphasis on maintaining roads and clearing obstacles. The incumbent will perform routine equipment maintenance, adjust attachments for precise work, and ensure safe, efficient operation on varied terrain.

Qualifications

• US citizenship or US national required.
• Male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Background investigation and/or fingerprint check required.
• Direct Deposit is mandatory for pay; federal payments via direct deposit.
• Must pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must be at least 18 years old; this is a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
• A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required for selection.

Responsibilities

• Operate one or more heavy equipment types (graders, tractors with blades, loaders, backhoes, trench diggers, large tractors) as assigned.
• Maintain equipment and perform routine inspection and servicing.
• Repair and clear road shoulders, beds, brush, stumps and rocks as needed.
• Adjust attachments for proper level, angle, or depth per equipment used.
• Work on forest roads and compounds on various terrains.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety procedures

Tools

CDL (Commercial Driver's License)

Job description

Summary

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is established on a Forest unit in support of road systems and other program areas. Incumbent operates and maintains engineering equipment.

Major Duties

Incumbent operates one or more types of heavy equipment, such as graders, tractors with bulldozer or angledozer blades, front-end loaders, backhoes, trench diggers, and large industrial tractors with pan or scraper attachments.Work is generally done on flat or rolling terrain with simple terrain problems, such as forest roads and compounds.Incumbent maintains ditches, road shoulders, and beds and firelines and clears brush, tree stumps and rocks.Reviews the work to be performed and adjusts equipment attachments for a set level, angle, or depth, according to the type of equipment used.Ensures equipment is maintained in good working condition.

Requirements

You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify. Must be 18 years of age. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice. This position requires the selectee to obtain or possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and therefore, is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Department of Transportation (DOT)/Forest Service Alcohol and Controlled Substance Testing Program If selected, you must register with the DOT Clearinghouse as a driver at and complete a Query Consent. You must respond to the consent within 24 hours.

Evaluations

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages. If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

Other Information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between April 18, 2027 to June 13, 2027. By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates. This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates in your duty location State. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay. This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.