Operations & Maintenance Technician IV - Equipment Operator (Backhoe/Excavator)

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Excellent health/dental/life/vision

401(k) with match and 457 plan

Public transportation reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is seeking an Operations & Maintenance Technician IV – Equipment Operator (Backhoe/Excavator) in Riverside. The role covers heavy machinery operation, light and heavy equipment use, and extensive field work, including underground tasks and long-distance travel.

Requires a high school diploma or GED with 6+ years of heavy equipment experience or related training. California CDL/Class A/B/C licenses and several certifications may be required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus a minimum of 6 years in a heavy construction equipment operation position.
• Or diploma plus journey-level skills through a recognized operator training program and/or related industrial experience.
• Experience and knowledge demonstrating journey-level operation of heavy equipment and safe operation of a variety of motorized equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operate excavators and backhoes for precision trench excavation.
• Drive dump trucks, water trucks, vacuum trucks and stake bed trucks.
• Perform facility maintenance including vegetation removal and roadway patrols.
• Build and maintain access roads and rights-of-way.
• Load and transport equipment using multiple-axle trucks and trailers.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety awareness

Travel readiness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Journey-level operator training

Tools

California Class A/B/C license

Crane Certification

Forklift Certification

Hazardous Materials Certification

Manlift Certification

Respirator Certification

Job description

Operations & Maintenance Technician IV - Equipment Operator (Backhoe/Excavator)

Job ID: 2026-3513

Job Locations: US-CA-Riverside

Posted Date: 11/5/2026 2:23 PM

Application Filing Period: November 5, 2026 - November 23, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. PT

# of Openings: 1

Min: USD $47.07/Hr.

Max: USD $61.93/Hr.

Work Schedule: 4/10 Fulltime

Group: INTEGRATED OPS PLAN&SUPPT SRVC

Section: OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES

Unit: CONSTRUCTION SVCS UNIT

Team: EASTERN CONSTRUCTION TEAM

Bargaining Unit Name / Code: 02 - AFSCME

At the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, we deliver reliable water to a region with 19 million people-and to accomplish this, we rely on a team of Talented Employees: innovators, problem-solvers, and collaborators who make it all possible.

This recruitment may result in an Eligibility List*.

The Operations and Maintenance Technician IV - Equipment Operator (Backhoe/Excavator) functions as a journey-level professional who leverages extensive field experience and technical knowledge to manage both light and heavy machinery.

In this role you will be responsible for the repair, relocation, and service connection of massive pipelines measuring up to 13 feet in diameter. This role requires installation of concrete-reinforced structures and encasements; construction of buildings and substructures; and heavy construction shoring (heavy beams and steel plates) activities. Hands-on utility tasks include concrete breaking, placing and tying reinforcing steel, and completing cast-in-place reinforced concrete finishes.

As Operations and Maintenance Technician IV - Equipment Operator (Backhoe/Excavator), you will operate an extensive equipment portfolio. This ranges from standard vehicles and multiple-axle trucks or trailers to specialized heavy machinery including excavators, dozers, backhoes, loaders, tractors, dump trucks, water trucks, and cranes.

The working environment demands high adaptability, as tasks frequently require working inside large-diameter pipes beneath residential streets and operating within underground substructures. Furthermore, you must be available to travel and work in remote desert locations for an estimated eight weeks throughout the year. Travel typically occurs in one- or two-week increments, though schedules may vary based on evolving project needs.

Expectations of Hours of Service, Emergency and Stand-by Service:

Employees in this position may be required to work off-shift hours and/or stand-by service to address operational needs and emergencies as required. May be required to work extended periods away from the normal reporting location.

What You'll Do

• Primary Tool: Operate excavators and backhoes for precision trench excavation.
• Truck Driving: Drive dump trucks, water trucks, vacuum trucks and stake bed trucks.
• Water Assets: Facility Maintenance including vegetation removal, grading of patrol roads and other repairs on MWD infra structure.
• Roadway Support: Build and maintain access roads and rights-of-way.
• Hauling: Load and transport equipment using multiple-axle trucks and trailers.

This opening is for the Operations and Maintenance Technician IV - Equipment Operator (Backhoe/Excavator) located in the Construction Services Unit at our Lake Mathews Reservoir Facility in Riverside

Schedule

4/10 - (Monday - Thursday 6:00am - 4:30pm)

This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification / job.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or high school equivalency certificate in addition to a minimum of 6 years in a heavy construction equipment operation position.

OR

High school diploma or high school equivalency certificate and attainment of journey level skills through a recognized equipment operator trade training program and/or applicable related experience within a industrial environment.

Relevant Experience

Experience and knowledge as demonstrated by journey-level practical application of techniques and practices specific to heavy equipment operations. The necessary skills include effective, legal and safe operation of a variety of motorized equipment including light and heavy construction equipment. Also requires journey-level skills in preventive and corrective maintenance practices related to general construction that are normally associated with equipment operation and are generally obtained through applicable training and experience.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Employees in this position may be required to obtain and maintain the following certifications, licensing and registrations:

Valid Driver's license from state of residency equivalent to a California Class A, B, and/or C with appropriate commercial license endorsements.

* Crane certification * Forklift Certification * Hazardous Materials Certification * Manlift Certification * Respirator Certification

CLOSING

Benefits

• Competitive compensation * Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans. * Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan. * Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System * Tuition reimbursement * Training and advancement opportunities * Excellent working environment * Public transportation reimbursements

For more information on MWD benefits, please use the following link: Benefits Regular FT PT Employees (Represented)

ABOUT MWD

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities, who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please call [phone] or email: [e-mail].

Metropolitan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic(s).

Application Filing Period

Closes at 4:30 pm PT on the date stated in the job announcement. However, it may close prior to the filing end date if sufficient applications have been received. If sufficient applications have not been received, then the filing period end date may be extended.

Eligibility List*

An eligibility list is a list of qualified candidates created when a job posting states that one will be established.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications listed in the original posting and successfully pass all stages of the recruitment process-but are not selected for the initial vacancy-may be placed on this list for future openings.

The list may be used to invite candidates to participate in a selection interview for a future vacancy in the same classification / title (if there is one). The duration of the list depends on the applicable bargaining unit.

Qualifying Experience

Your resume must at a minimum include the month and year you began and ended employment, name of the organization, your title, and a brief description of your experience. If your employment was part-time, make sure you identify it on your resume next to the month/year.

Sponsorship

Applicants for employment with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H1-B or other employment-based immigration case).

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