Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator

$2,500 Signing Bonus* Ready to get behind the controls to operate heavy equipment and make a real impact? Join the award-winning Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) and put your heavy equipment skills to work protecting communities and the environment. From cleaning storm systems to reducing flood risks and maintaining critical infrastructure, this is hands-on work that keeps Fairfax County running strong. If you take pride in operating equipment, working outdoors, and seeing the results of your work every day- this is the job for you. Now hiring experienced Heavy Equipment Operators to join our Stormwater Maintenance Operations team. Plus, a $2500 signing bonus* to get you started.

Heavy equipment operators:

• Performs a variety of skilled and semi-skilled duties required in the operation and preventative maintenance of various pieces of heavy equipment, including tractors, flusher truck, tandem dump trucks, loaders, rubber tire loaders, backhoes, track loaders, excavators, skid steers, and low-boy tractor and trailer.
• Works as part of a team who is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads, sidewalks, storm drainage and other public improvements.
• Performs daily equipment inspection and complete an operational check list.
• When required, acts as field lead for a team of two to five employees directly responsible for performing and completing construction and maintenance activities
• Ensures all appropriate safety procedures are followed when working.
• Uses laptops and desktop computers to utilize asset management systems with county GIS to create, edit and complete assigned work orders.
• Duties are performed under the general supervision of the senior maintenance supervisor.

The ideal candidate must have:

• Accountability - Own mistakes such as improper equipment use or delays, reports them immediately, and takes corrective action to prevent safety risks.
• Effective Communication - Clearly communicates with ground crew using hand signals/radios to ensure safe and accurate equipment movement.
• Customer Service - Responds quickly to supervisor requests and adjusts work priorities to keep projects on schedule.
• Collaborative Leadership - Works closely with crew members to coordinate lifts, digging, or grading operations safely and efficiently.
• Diversity Awareness - Maintains a respectful work environment and cooperates effectively with a diverse crew on job sites.

Fairfax County's award-winning Stormwater team works to reduce flood risk and protect local watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay with comprehensive watershed and infrastructure management to protect people, the environment, and property. A job worth doing is worth doing together.

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates, and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness.

Note: The appointee to this position is subject to emergency callback 24 hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to respond to snow, flood, and other designated emergencies requiring division resources, on an as-needed basis. In 2026, all West Drive assignments will be permanently located at the new Water Resources and Infrastructure building, located at 6000 Freds Oak Road, Burke, VA 22015. Position may require traveling to multiple Fairfax County sites. This position works in the DPWES Stormwater Maintenance Operations Branch located at 10635 West Drive Fairfax, VA. 22030.

*A $2,500 signing bonus is available to new county employees hired in the Heavy Equipment Operator position. Applicants must possess a valid CDL at time of application submission to be eligible.

Employment Standards

Minimum Qualifications: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to completion of the tenth grade, and three years of experience operating motorized equipment and/or semi-tractor trailers, as appropriate.

Certificates and Licenses Required:

• Valid driver's license.
• Commercial driver's license (CDL) Class "A". Tanker Endorsement within 12 months of hire.

Necessary Special Requirements: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background, driving record check, and pre-employment physical to the satisfaction of the employer.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of experience operating heavy equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, graders, backhoes, and loaders.
• 1-2 years of experience performing equipment maintenance and daily inspections in accordance with established procedures.
• 2-3 years of experience adhering to OSHA and site safety protocols, conducting pre-operations, and proactively identifying hazards to ensure safe work execution.
• 2-3 years of experience adjusting operational strategies in response to field conditions to complete work safely and efficiently.
• 1-2 years of experience learning and applying new equipment, technologies, or safety practices that enhance productivity, safety, or quality of work.
• 2-4 years of experience in stormwater, drainage, or utility infrastructure work, including installation, maintenance, or repair of pipes, culverts, ditches, and manholes.
• 3-5 years of experience reading and interpreting site plans, grade stakes, and utility markings to support accurate and efficient work execution.
• 1-2 years of experience applying erosion and sediment control practices, including installation and maintenance of measures such as silt-fence, inlet protection, and site stabilization.

Physical Requirements: Ability to lift/ slide up to 90 lbs. with assistance. Ability to set up and operate Vacuum Flusher truck equipment units. Effectively communicate both oral and in writing. Must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment and use other automated technology to input, access and retrieve information from a laptop or desktop. Visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitors such as GIS maps. Must be able to physically negotiate rough terrain on uneven ground such as hills, wooded and marshy areas. Must be capable of pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, stooping, walking, and climbing to enter permitted confined spaces such as in and out of catch basins and manholes. Per safety requirements, confined spaces may not be entered by persons who weigh 310lbs. or more. Must be physically fit to perform manual labor in all types of environments. This requires the ability to endure variable and extreme weather conditions such as hot, cold, during rain, noisy environments, etc. Requires the ability to stand, stoop, bend, reach, walk, climb, sit, kneel, crawl, lift, as well as work in strenuous and uncomfortable positions for long periods of time to manipulate materials with manual dexterity, use of hoses, and operate units up to 12 feet tall to set up and perform maintenance. The ability to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), such as a hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, long pants, sleeved shirt and personal fall arrest harness. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Selection Procedure: Panel interview and may include exercise. Bonus Eligibility: Positions within this classification that require a CDL that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus for new county employees only. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee. Must have CDL at time of hire. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others .) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY View phone number on click.appcast.io. View email address on click.appcast.io EEO/AA/TTY.