Engineering Equipment Operator

U.S. Department of the Interior; Montpelier (VT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Montpelier, VT is seeking an Engineering Equipment Operator to operate, maintain, and repair heavy equipment and facilities supporting excavation, grading, and infrastructure projects.

The role requires leading work steps, promoting safe practices, training others, and maintaining equipment and maintenance records, with a focus on compliant project execution and field operations.

Qualifications

• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A endorsement.
• U.S. Citizenship required; background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Pre-employment and random alcohol and drug testing are required.
• Ability to interpret plans and operate heavy equipment safely.

Responsibilities

• Drive and operate semi-trucks and haul equipment to project sites.
• Operate road graders, backhoes, loaders, excavators and other heavy equipment.
• Perform daily maintenance checks and minor repairs; coordinate major repairs.
• Interpret engineering plans and ensure work meets specifications.
• Conduct basic building maintenance and electrical tasks as needed.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety practices

Leadership training

Tools

CDL Class A

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Engineering Equipment Operator with US Fish and Wildlife Service. Operates, maintains, and repairs heavy equipment and facilities to support excavation, grading, earthmoving, infrastructure projects, and refuge operations. Leads activities by planning work steps, promoting safe practices, training others, and maintaining accurate equipment and maintenance records.

Major Duties

• Drive and operate semi-trucks trailer, load, secure, and haul equipment to and from project sites.
• Operating road graders, crawlers, tractors with bulldozer or angledozer blades, backhoes, front-end loaders, excavators, wheel loaders, trench diggers, skid steers, and large industrial tractors with pan or scraper attachments.
• Operating gasoline or diesel-powered engineering, construction, and heavy equipment to grade surfaces to rough specifications on all types of terrain.
• Daily maintenance checks and service include performing minor repairs, coordinating major repairs, replacing worn, defective, or broken parts, and troubleshooting equipment issues.
• Interpret plans and profiles for roads, buildings, and earthwork construction and maintenance while utilizing various types of engineering equipment to ensure projects are completed according to plan specifications.
• Conduct basic building maintenance and repairs, which encompasses tasks such as replacing plumbing components, outlets, sockets, lighting and power fixtures, as well as working with various wiring and systems.
• Proficient in installing outlets, switches, light fixtures, regulators, and circuit breakers.
• Effectively utilizes the proper diagnostic tools to identify and assess deficiencies within water and electrical systems, ensuring timely and accurate maintenance solutions.

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

• 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.
• Commercial Driver's License: CDL Class A. 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: 75 miles from Montpelier, Idaho. 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. 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.