Engineering Equipment Operator Helper.

USDA Forest Service; Durban; On-site; ZAR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the USDA Forest Service as a temporary equipment operator where you will assist in operating and maintaining heavy engineering equipment crucial for wildfire suppression and other essential tasks. The role requires physical stamina, responsiveness to training, and a commitment to safety while ensuring effective performance in remote locations.

Benefits

Comprehensive federal benefits package

Potential for extensions based on performance

Qualifications

• Ability to perform duties with minimal supervision.
• Experience with operating motor vehicles.
• Understands maintenance procedures with equipment.

Responsibilities

• Assists in heavy equipment operation and maintenance.
• Performs manual tasks requiring physical effort.
• Supports wildfire suppression efforts as needed.

Skills

Ability to drive safely

Ability to interpret instructions

Work practices

Tools

Heavy equipment operation

Job description

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.
• 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 water sources and associated pipelines, and water capture and storage structures.
• Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical capabilities.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Qualification Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting.
• Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
• 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.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.
• Position may be required to drive vehicles that require a Class A or Class B Commercial Driver’s License, based on type or kind of equipment being operated.
• Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters.
  
  

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible for this position. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate experience requirements.

Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to perform the duties of the position rather than length of experience. Eligibility will be determined by the relevance, scope and quality of all experience and training, regardless of where or how acquired.

Applicants will be ranked and rated based on their knowledge of the job elements identified in this announcement.

Job Elements

• Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
• Operation of Motor Vehicles.
• Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order).
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation).
• Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles).
• Ability to Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle).
  
  

Selective Placement Factors

• Position may be required to drive vehicles that require a Class A or Class B Commercial Driver's License, based on type or kind of equipment being operated.
• This is a testing designated position which requires a negative test result for illegal drug use prior to appointment and randomly thereafter.
• Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Qualification Standards for moderate level duty wildland firefighting.
  
  

There is no substitution of education for this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the MODERATE level is a ''condition of employment.'' The Moderate fitness (Field) test requires completing a two (2) mile hike within thirty (30) minutes, while carrying a twenty-five (25) pound pack.

In accordance with USDA Department Regulation 4430-792-2, this position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the USDA Drug Free Workplace Program and subject to pre-employment drug testing. All applicants selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis on an ongoing random basis, after appointment as directed.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2026 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between October 19, 2025 to December 28, 2025.

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

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

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.

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.

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
  
  

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.