Engineering Equipment Operator

U.S. Department of the Interior; Lacombe (LA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of the Interior in Lacombe, LA is seeking an Engineering Equipment Operator to work on short-term, small-team projects such as replacing culverts, repairing levees, and maintaining roads. Expect on-call duties, evenings, weekends, and overtime.

Position emphasizes safe operation of gasoline and diesel equipment and adherence to safety standards. Required tasks include driving various vehicles to transport personnel and gear, using tools and equipment, interpreting drawings

Qualifications

• Federal Wage System position requiring valid CDL Class A and driver's license.
• Experience operating gasoline- and diesel-powered construction equipment.
• Ability to read instructions, diagrams, and specifications.

Responsibilities

• Operate various motor vehicles to transport personnel, supplies, and equipment.
• Apply safe driving practices and monitor terrain, load limits, and surroundings.
• Use and maintain hand tools, power tools, and equipment for daily tasks.
• Assemble, repair, and reinstall components per specifications.
• Keep work areas and equipment clean and properly maintained.

Skills

Safe driving

Tool operation

Diagrams interpretation

Reading specs

Education

No substitution of education for experience (FWS)

Tools

CDL Class A

Commercial Driver's License

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Engineering Equipment Operator . This position supports operates in gasoline- and diesel-powered construction equipment on short-term, small-team projects, including replacing culverts, repairing levees, cleaning canals and ditches, maintaining roads, and repairing small parking areas. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.

Major Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Operates motor vehicles of various sizes to transport personnel, supplies, and equipment in support of daily operations. Applies safe-driving practices by maintaining awareness of terrain, load limits, and surroundings to prevent accidents or damage. Use and maintains hand tools, power tools, and mechanical equipment to ensure reliable and safe operation during daily tasks. Assembles, repairs, and reinstalls mechanical or structural components following established specifications. Interprets written instructions, diagrams, and specifications to plan and complete assigned work tasks accurately. Keeps work areas, vehicles, and equipment clean, organized, and properly maintained to support safe and efficient operations.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive test is received. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A endorsement. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You must pass a physical examination. You may need to complete a statement regarding your physical ability. Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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.

Evaluations

This position is being filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. The Servicing Human Resources Office will determine whether applicants meet the qualification and eligibility requirements described in this announcement. Applicants who meet these requirements may be referred to the selecting official on a certificate of eligibles for consideration. You must certify that you will maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within the defined vicinity of the field unit(s) listed in this announcement. Upon receipt of a completed application package, the Servicing Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages. Resumes longer than two pages will not be reviewed. Applicants may submit only one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine qualifications and eligibility. If more than one resume is submitted, only the most recent submission will be reviewed. If your resume is incomplete or does not demonstrate that you meet the qualification requirements or specialized experience described in this announcement, you may be determined ineligible or not qualified for further consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/02/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement: Two Page Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Proof of residence (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy). SF-50 cannot be accepted as proof of residence. Veteran Documentation, if applicable, such as: DD-214, SF15, letter from Veteran Affairs, etc. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

Other Information

This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is: 50 miles from Lacombe, Saint Tammany, Louisiana . You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy, etc.). See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies. The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.? EXPLORE Act Veteran Hiring Pilot Program The Department of the Interior has created a two-year Veteran Hiring Pilot as established by the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act that aims to expand employment opportunities for Veterans (and eligible transitioning Service Members). This position has been identified as EXPLORE Act Veteran Hiring Pilot eligible. The pilot supports DOI's conservation and resource management mission by connecting qualified Veterans with career opportunities across the Department. To learn more, visit https://www.doi.gov/veterans/explore-act. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. Physical Demands: Operating and maintaining the equipment requires substantial physical effort, including frequent reaching, bending, turning, and working in awkward positions. Operators are exposed to vibration and jolting on rough surfaces and regularly lift or carry items weighing up to 50 pounds, as well as push, pull, turn, and position parts, equipment, and tools. Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily outdoors (95%) in varied weather and terrain, with regular exposure to water, fumes, dust, grease, dirt, moving machinery, hazardous materials, extreme temperatures, and uneven or slippery surfaces. The job carries risks of shocks, cuts, falls, falling objects, equipment-related injuries, and vehicle collisions; employees must follow safety procedures and use appropriate personal protective equipment, including protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, eye protection, gloves, steel-toe boots, and respirators. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.