Engineering Equipment Operator

U.S. Department of the Interior; Los Banos (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of the Interior is seeking an Engineering Equipment Operator to operate gasoline or diesel heavy equipment on a variety of Service Projects at multiple locations.

You may travel overnight up to five nights per month and must obtain a government travel card. First-time federal hires typically start at the Step 1 rate of $39.52 per hour, with progression to higher steps based on tenure and performance.

Qualifications

• Ability to operate heavy equipment to excavate, grade, and build per plans.
• Safety-focused maintenance and inspections of equipment.
• Willingness to travel and work on varied sites.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment to excavate, backfill, grade, or level earth per specifications.
• Service, check, fuel, and maintain equipment and attachments.
• Perform daily preventative maintenance and record keeping for equipment.
• Maintain water control structures, pumps, wells, and related systems.
• Instruct safety for others in heavy equipment operation and related tasks.
• Install and repair building electrical systems and HVAC components.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety awareness

Manual dexterity

Tools

CDL (Commercial Driver's License)

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Engineering Equipment Operator to operate gasoline or diesel powered engineering and construction heavy equipment to complete a variety of Service Projects at various locations. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. $39.52 - $46.03 First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Major Duties

• Operates heavy equipment to excavate, backfill, grade, or level earth to exact specifications on such projects as breaking new ground for trails, roads, canals, tunnels, or construction sites from engineered drawings to achieve land management and facility operation goals.
• Services, checks, and fuels equipment before operation, checks and services attachments to be used.
• Performs daily preventative maintenance and makes repairs and adjustments to equipment and attachments to equipment.
• Keeps up to date written maintenance records for all equipment operated.
• Maintains, operates, and adjusts water control structures including pumps and dams.
• Measures, monitors and documents all water use and levels, control structures, wells, and pumps.
• Serves as a safety instructor for other employees and volunteers in the operator's areas of knowledge (e.g. heavy equipment operation, off road utility vehicle operation, etc.).
• Installs, maintains, and repairs building and facility electrical systems such as lighting and power fixtures, wiring, fire or water alarm systems, and emergency power systems.
• Performs routine preventive maintenance on heating systems and refrigeration and air conditioning units.
• Maintains, repairs, or constructs a variety of structures and surfaces of brick, block, stone, and other related materials.
• Operates various electric resistance welding machines to join, repair, modify, or fabricate a variety of parts or components.
• Commercial Driver’s License: Duties of this position require the employee to have and maintain a valid State Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate various vehicles and equipment. Incumbents who do not possess a CDL at the time of appointment must obtain and maintain a valid CDL within one (1) year of their appointment date. Positions requiring a CDL are subject to physical examination and drug and alcohol testing requirements as established by the Department of Transportation (49 CFR 391.41 (b)(l)(b)(13)).

Education

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

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. 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/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• Pre-employment and random drug testing are required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• 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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position. Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements: Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT) Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc. Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc. Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic) If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, the agency will expand the group of candidates in accordance with the pre-announced supplement strategy and 5 CFR 332.402(f). Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Other Information

Physical Demands: Very strenuous heavy physical effort is required in the operation and frequent adjustment of large pieces of equipment and attachments, often under adverse operating conditions.

Location of the controls and attachments frequently requires work in awkward or strained positions. Additional physical requirements may be required due to facility maintenance assignments and tasks regarding ladders, confined spaces, lifting, stooping, bending, twisting, etc. Considerable energy is needed working in small confined spaces or elevated areas, and operating equipment over rough surfaces. Work normally requires extensive standing, walking, kneeling and bending. Lifts, carries and sets up, parts, equipment and objects or loads up to 50 pounds, unassisted, and up to 100 pounds with assistance.

Working Conditions: Work is accomplished both in an office setting (5%) and outdoors (95%). Due to operations of large and complicated equipment, often in rough terrain, the operator is exposed to injury resulting from equipment overturning, and is subject to noise, vibration, dust, fumes, grease, dirt, and moving parts of equipment and machinery. Work performed outside is in a variety of settings where steep terrain, extremely uneven, rocky and slippery footing is normal. Temperature extremes are common. Employee is regularly exposed to the possibility of shock, cuts, scrapes, and bruises, falls, falling material, or injury from equipment associated with power equipment or hazardous materials.

Work demands conformance to safety requirements including the use of a variety of personal protective equipment such as: protective clothing, hardhats, hearing protection, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, steel toe heavy leather boots, respirator, and other personal protective items. Serious injury may result from getting caught in operating equipment, or from collisions with automobiles when operating on or near public roads. 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.