Engineering Equipment Operator

National Cemetery Administration; Bayamón (PR); On-site; USD 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Cemetery Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, is seeking an Engineering Equipment Operator to dig graves and prepare grave sites at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, PR. The role involves operating a backhoe and related heavy equipment in varied terrain to ensure proper burial site preparation.

Responsibilities include landscape maintenance of plots, digging and backfilling graves, and complying with bargaining unit rules and scheduling

Qualifications

• Operates heavy equipment such as a backhoe to prepare grave sites.
• Performs digging, leveling and backfilling of graves in varying terrain.
• Adapt attachments and controls for proper depth and alignment.

Responsibilities

• Operate backhoe and other heavy equipment to dig graves and prepare sites.
• Landscape grave sites by clearing brush, stumps, and rocks, adjusting attachments as needed.
• Excavate earth and backfill graves, including French drains as required.
• Work schedule may include Monday–Friday with weekends; overtime and holidays as needed.
• Follow AFGE/VA agreements; understand local facility area of consideration.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Job description

• Hiring Agency: National Cemetery Administration
• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is located at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Key Responsibilities

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFGE. Please note that as provided for in the AFGE/VA Master Agreement the FIRST area of consideration for this position will be permanent employees of the local facility in which this position is being filled, the SECOND area of consideration will be employees at other VA facilities, and the THIRD area of consideration will be all other eligibles.

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. 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 Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Engineering Equipment 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

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $23.43 – $27.32/hr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-02.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.

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Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government