Equipment Operator I and II (EQ1 & EQ2)

Boulder County Sheriff's Office

Colorado

On-site

USD 64,000 - 97,000

Full time

36 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Pension contributions

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Paid time off

Comprehensive health plans

Life insurance and other benefits

Job summary

The Boulder County Public Works/Road Maintenance Department is hiring Equipment Operator I and II in Boulder County, Colorado. These are full-time, benefited positions with regular day schedules and potential overtime.

EQ1 is entry-level; EQ2 is journey level, operating light to medium road maintenance equipment. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid CDL Class A/B (air brake endorsement preferred) or ability to obtain Class A, and a clean driving record.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required for EQ1.
Two years of road maintenance equipment experience for EQ2.
Valid driver's license with CDL Class A or B (air brake endorsement preferred).
Pre-employment physical and background check required.

Responsibilities

Operate light to medium road maintenance equipment per assignment.
Perform routine servicing and minor repairs on equipment.
Assist in construction and maintenance projects as directed.
Follow safety rules and coordinate with team during operations.

Skills

Knowledge of traffic laws

Light equipment operation

Able to read and follow instructions

Teamwork / collaboration

Safety consciousness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

EQ2: two years of road maintenance equipment experience

Job description

Description

The Boulder County Public Works/Road Maintenance Department is seeking to hire

The Equipment Operator I is the entry-level classification in the Equipment Operator series. The Equipment Operator I performs a variety of unskilled and semi-skilled duties in the operation of light equipment utilized in road construction, maintenance and repair work.

Salary

$67,068.00 - $96,600.00 Annually

Location

Boulder County, CO

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

6833(EQ1 & EQ2)

Department

Public Works

Division

PWD RDM Road Maintenance

Opening Date

09/17/2026

Closing Date

10/4/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Description

The Boulder County Public Works/Road Maintenance Department is seeking to hire five (5) Equipment Operator I (EQ1) and Equipment Operator II (EQ2)

The Equipment Operator II is the journey level classification in the Equipment Operator series. The Equipment Operator II performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled duties in the operation of medium equipment utilized in road construction, maintenance and repair.

This is a full-time, benefited position that will work Monday - Thursday 6:00am - 4:30pm (summer schedule) and Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm (winter schedule). Some evening availability is required for group facilitation. Scheduling flexibility may be offered based on candidate needs and program requirements. This position will work out of 286 Ridge Road, Nederland, Colorado. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is non-exempt (eligible for overtime).

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

EQ1 Hiring Salary Range

$63,828.00 - $77,886.00 Annually

EQ2 Hiring Salary Range

$67,068.00 - $81,834.00 Annually

Tentative Hiring Timeline

Phone Screening: October 12th
First Round Interviews: October 15th
Second Round Interviews: October 20th
Reference Check: October 22nd

New employees receive an 80-hour bank (Download PDF reader) of vacation at the time of hire, in addition to 8 hours of both vacation and medical leave accruals each month (Must not have been employed at Boulder County during the 12 months prior to re-hire date to qualify). Boulder County offers bountiful benefits, including pension contributions. Boulder County employees may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit studentaid.gov for more information.

Examples of Duties

Eq1

Operates equipment such as single-axle trucks, light front-end loaders and other light equipment used for County road construction, snow removal, maintenance and repair
Services and makes minor repairs and adjustments to assigned equipment
Checks and reports present or anticipated mechanical problems of assigned equipment
Performs manual labor as a crew member involved in construction and maintenance projects
May operate, as a trainee, medium equipment such as backhoes, tandem-axle trucks and medium front-end loaders
Performs related work, as required
May be reassigned in emergency situations

EQ2

Operates equipment such as front-end loaders, backhoes, tandem-axle trucks and other medium equipment used for County road construction, snow removal, maintenance and repair
Services and makes minor repairs and adjustments to assigned equipment
Checks and reports present or anticipated mechanical problems of assigned equipment
Performs general labor required on construction and maintenance projects
Trains and gives general direction to other employees
May operate, as a trainee, heavy equipment such as graders, loaders, dozers, and snow plows
Performs related work, as required
May be reassigned during emergency situations

Education & Experience

Equipment Operator I (EQ1)

A high school diploma, or equivalent
one year of experience operating road maintenance equipment

Equipment Operator II (EQ2)

A high school diploma, or equivalent
two years of experience operating road maintenance equipment, which has included training in the operation of medium-sized road equipment

DRIVER'S LICENSE (both EQ1 & EQ2)

YOU MUST POSSES A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE CLASS A OR B FOR APPLICATION TO BE ACCEPTED
Employee may possess a Colorado Class B Commercial Driver's license with air brake endorsement with the requirement that a Class A is obtained within 9 months of hire.
Applicants must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record
For more information regarding a clean driving record, please click here.

BACKGROUND CHECK (both EQ1 & EQ2)

A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (both EQ1 & EQ2)

Candidates for this position will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment physical
Applicants must pass a drug test

Preferred Qualifications

Class A CDL without restrictions
Mountain driving experience

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Working knowledge of traffic laws and common hazards and safety precautions necessary for light equipment operation
Ability to recognize mechanical problems and make minor repairs to light equipment
Ability to understand verbal and written instructions
Ability to work effectively with other employees and the public

Physical Requirements

Back and Upper Body (lifting): Frequent use of shovels, rakes, 8 to16 lb. sledgehammers, 10-20 lb. digging bars, and picks. Occasionally lift and carry from floor to waist (two-man lift) 75-157 lb. rubber and steel blades, guardrail sections, timbers, tires, and animal carcasses. Occasionally lift from floor to waist with one or two hands 10-30 lb. electric, gas and pneumatic tools, equipment, and building materials (lumber, steel bars, etc.). Occasionally lift and carry from floor to shoulder and from shoulder to floor 40-70 lb. steel tire chains (this is done with no help available, but may be done in sections weighing up to 60 lbs. per section). Occasionally mount and handle (push, pull, roll, raise with bars, etc.) truck tires and wheels weighing up to 200 lbs.
Hands And Arms Frequently use levers, handles, buttons, and wheels to operate various types of heavy road equipment for extended hours. Frequently use electric, gas and pneumatic tools, hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers), shovels, rakes, bars, picks, hammers, and brooms.
Body Movement When snowing - Frequently sit in one position while driving; head, neck, arm, and leg movements associated with driving. Equipment is rough riding with bouncing, rolling, pitching, jolting, and vibrating action.
When not snowing - Occasionally stand for long periods of time (6-10 hours) flagging traffic. Occasionally work in unusual positions (kneeling, crawling, lying down). Occasionally mount or dismount using hand rails and steps (2 feet to first step) various types of equipment.

Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio‑economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Benefits

Outstanding options of comprehensive health plans that include vision and dental coverage. Information can be found HERE.
Additional Benefits include (Download PDF reader)
- Family-forming benefits- infertility treatment, adoption and surrogacy reimbursements
- 12 weeks Paid Caregiver leave
- Breast feeding friendly-work environment
- Infants-at-work policy
- Access to LifeMart and Benefits Hub discount hub, including discounts on childcare centers, event tickets, travel and more!
- Access to a nationally-recognized wellness program
- Employee Assistance Program
- PERA 401k
- Social Security retirement plans
- Additional Life and Disability Insurance
- Critical Illness and Accidental Insurance
- County-paid tuition assistance
- Eligible for PSLF- Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Free EcoPass
- Hospital Indemnity
- ID Theft Protection
- Pet Insurance
- 8 Hours of Paid Public Service Leave
Generous paid time off
- Holidays
  - New Year's Day
  - Martin Luther King's Birthday January
  - Presidents' Day
  - Memorial Day
  - Juneteenth
  - Independence Day
  - Labor Day
  - Indigenous People's Day
  - General Election Day November (first Tuesday after the first Monday, even years)
  - Veterans' Day
  - Thanksgiving Day November
  - Friday after Thanksgiving*
  - Christmas Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)
  - Christmas Day
  - New Year’s Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)
- Vacation**
  - 80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hire
  - Eight hours of vacation per month for the first year of continuous service, then accrue twelve hours of vacation per month after the first year of continuous service.
- Medical**
  - Eight hours of medical leave for each month employed.
PERA- The County and all employees pay into both Social Security and PERA
- Employer contribution to Social Security: 7.65% of salary
- Employer contribution to PERA (Local Government Division- most county employees: 15.80%
- The District Attorney’s Office observe Francis Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday in October and omit the Friday after Thanksgiving
- Vacation and Medical leave are based off of full time FTE accruals. Part-time FTE/term employees accrue leave based on the percentage of time they work.