Engineering Equipment Operator Helper

U.S. Department of Agriculture; United States; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking to fill a temporary position on a National Forest fire crew. The role supports initial attack, fire and fuels management by assisting with the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment under close supervision.

The incumbent will learn and perform typical duties of heavy equipment operators, follow detailed instructions, and contribute to safe, efficient wildfire suppression support in remote or challenging locations.

Qualifications

• Operates and maintains heavy equipment under supervision.
• Learns common duties of heavy equipment operators.

Responsibilities

• Assist journeyman equipment operator in operating heavy machinery.
• Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on equipment.
• Follow instructions for new or difficult assignments and ensure safe, efficient work.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety procedures

Job description

Summary

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization. This position is located on a Forest Unit to assist the fire dozer operator with initial attack, fire, and fuels management activities.

Major Duties

Assists journeyman equipment operator in equipment operation and operates equipment under close supervision.Supports journeyman engineering equipment operators in operating heavy equipment, such as large industrial tractors, loaders, backhoes, graders, dump trucks, and soil compactors.Services and performs operator maintenance on equipment being performed. Receives training and learns the common and typical duties associated with operating heavy engineering equipment.Learns to operate controls and adjust equipment attachments.Performs maintenance and makes minor repairs and adjustments to equipment operated. Reports major mechanical problems to supervisor. Assists engineering equipment operator in maintaining equipment for emergency use in fire suppression.Ensures that work is performed safely and efficiently in accordance with established standards.Receives and follows detailed instructions for new or difficult assignments. Under close supervision, performs service and operator maintenance on equipment being operated.Performs manual tasks that require prior work experience or training and some degree of manual skill and very heavy physical effort.Such as installation of culverts or drainage structures, installation of water sources and associated pipelines, and water capture and storage structures.Assignments may also include repairing various types of equipment such as house or equipment trailers.Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical capabilities.

Requirements

You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing. Must be 18 years of age. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.gov. This is a Test Designated Position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice. Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable). Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.. Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters. Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for appropriate duty level of wildland firefighting.

Evaluations

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Other Information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between April 18, 2027 to June 13, 2027. By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates. This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates in your duty location State. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay. This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.