Engineering Eqpt Operator.

National Cemetery Administration; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

National Cemetery Administration seeks a skilled Engineering Equipment Operator to support interments by operating a backhoe and related heavy equipment. You will prepare grave sites, clear debris, and assist in grounds maintenance under varying weather and terrain on federal cemetery grounds.

The role requires safe operation and routine equipment maintenance, adherence to regulations, and the ability to follow detailed instructions for efficient site preparation and interment support.

Qualifications

• Experience operating heavy equipment such as backhoes, graders, tractors with attachments.
• Ability to assess and adjust equipment for level, angle and depth.
• Demonstrated safety awareness and adherence to procedures.

Responsibilities

• Operate backhoes and heavy machinery to excavate graves and prepare sites.
• Landscape grave sites by clearing brush, stumps, rocks and debris.
• Perform first-echelon maintenance and basic fluid checks on equipment.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Grave site prep

Safety compliance

Job description

Duties

This is a

Operates one or more types of heavy equipment with multiple hand and foot controls, such as a backhoe, to dig, push, pull, pile, and load earth. For example, the operator uses equipment that is fitted with a front-end loader to maneuver to a specific spot to transfer material from the ground into a dump truck. The equipment is used as a tool for the purpose of digging multiple graves and preparing grave sites for first and subsequent interments. Landscapes grave sites by clearing brush, tree stumps, and rocks and cleaning underdeveloped land. Adjusts attachments for proper level, angle, and depth, according to the work to be done and the type of equipment used. Work is generally done on flat or rolling terrain, at new or previously landscaped grave sites with simple terrain problems.

Operates backhoe in place to excavate earth composed of dirt, rock, sand, and/or clay from grave sites. Digs graves on level ground and hillsides above or below the frost line under widely varying conditions, subject to contact with mud, ice, snow, rock, hard-pan clay, and tree stumps. Uses equipment to dig ditches in occupied grave sites for the placement of French drains and to backfill and tamp grave sites following burials.

May operate a variety of light mobile equipment and attachments used in cemetery and grounds maintenance such as tractors, trucks weighing less than 22,000 pounds, trailers, pumps, mowers, air compressors and turf vacuums. Uses powered equipment and attachments to dig holes for posts and headstones, and to pull, align and replace headstones and markers. Performs first echelon maintenance on all assigned equipment. Checks and as needed fills or replaces oil, water, brake fluid, batteries and tires.

Work schedule

May be required to work Monday through Friday to include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available

Position Description Title / PD#

Engineering Eqpt Operator / PD136400

The full performance level of this position is WG - 08.

Relocation Expenses

Not Authorized

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report

Not Required

If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application:

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must possess a valid REAL ID compliant state driver's license.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,10/09/2026.

Candidates must demonstrate the potential to operate 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. Evidence of this potential can be shown through work, training, or education that establishes proficiency in operating this type of equipment.

EXPERIENCE

A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standard Handbook X-118C.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT

Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements.

Screen-out Element(s) For This Position Are/is

• Ability to do the job without more than normal supervision.
• Must possess and maintain a valid REAL ID compliant state driver's license.

JOB ELEMENTS

• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)
• Motor Vehicles
• Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements

Heavy physical effort is used by the operators in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments. Considerable strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating over rough surfaces. They also perform more exacting work such as digging with a backhoe to close tolerances, requiring considerable manipulation of controls. Because of the location of some of the controls and attachments, the operators are frequently required to work in awkward or strained positions.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in all types of weather, in vehicles without air conditioning, often in an open driver's seat or platform, on hills, slopes, grades, rolling surfaces, and forests. The operators are exposed to injury due to the possibility of the equipment overturning. They are subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from the motor and exhaust In addition to risks posed by nearby markers and grave sites, the incumbent operates heavy equipment in close proximity to obstacles and hazards such as underground gas and electric lines, water and sewer lines, drains, curbs and trees.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Required

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Career Transition Assistance Plan

The and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy

The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit The Fair Chance Act.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

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For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.