Heavy Equipment Operator

Job Description

Join the City of Chattanooga. Build Your Career. Build Your Community.

Chattanooga isn't just where you work. It's where you make an impact.

Home to more than 180,000 residents, the City of Chattanooga is nationally recognized for innovation, sustainability, and exceptional quality of life. From our gig-powered technology infrastructure to our designation as the nation's first National Park City, we are a community that leads boldly into the future, and we're looking for passionate professionals to help us get there.

Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future, including a state-of-the-art Waste Water plant.
Why Work for the City of Chattanooga?

Our team of more than 2,600 dedicated public servants keeps Chattanooga safe, thriving, and future focused. Every role matters. Every employee makes a difference.
Serve with purpose in:

• Public Safety including Police and Fire

• Public Works including Waste Resources and Stormwater
• Parks and Outdoors and the Public Library
• Transportation and Airport Operations
• Smart City and Digital Innovation Initiatives

When you join the City, you're not just taking a job. You're shaping Chattanooga's future.
We Invest in You

We are committed to being Southeast Tennessee's employer of choice. That means investing in the people who serve our community every day.

What are the 5 C's that make Chattanooga the preferred pick:
• Competitive , structured compensation
• Convenient flexible scheduling and generous paid time off .
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Clear pathways for professional growth and advancement
• Community centered culture built on service, collaboration, and integrity.

Your career should grow as you grow. We make sure it does.
Work Where Others Vacation

Chattanooga is the country's first National Park City - where work-life balance isn't a buzzword, it's a way of life.

• Adventure Awaits Every Day - Hike stunning mountain trails, paddle the Tennessee River, climb world-class sandstone cliffs, or bike scenic greenways.
• Explore Natural Wonders - Waterfalls, overlooks, and breathtaking outdoor escapes are less than an hour away.
• Getaway Made Eas y - Just a short drive from four major cities for quick weekend adventures.
• Live Fully, Work Purposefully - Build a meaningful career while enjoying an extraordinary lifestyle.

Make Your Work Matter

If you're ready to serve, lead, innovate, and grow, Chattanooga is ready for you.

Apply today.

Build your career with purpose. Help build Chattanooga's future.

Salary: 22.74 - 27.47 per hour

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 900 E 11th St

FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt position.

Department: Public Works

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

Incumbents in this classification operate vehicles, tracked or rubber-tired construction and maintenance equipment or other equipment with specialized functions related to maintenance and construction in the Department of Public Works where the operation of complex mechanisms requires a higher degree of skill, dexterity, and finesse, and where work is performed to exacting tolerances.


Equipment in this classification includes backhoes, excavators, dozers, graders, and larger off-road vehicles with mechanisms that are complex to operate. Classification is reserved for those positions where the operation off-road, heavy equipment is the primary function of the job. Commercial vehicle operations are also required for some operations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Maneuvers heavy equipment and operates complex mechanisms involving digging, moving earth and materials, grading, loading, paving, and performing similar tasks in order to advance projects relating to construction and maintenance of city streets, utilities, and other infrastructure.


Equipment is primarily driven and operated on-site, but does require some driving over public roads; maneuvers in and around traffic, crew workers, equipment, utilities, and other obstacles; obeys all traffic laws and safety guidelines; monitors the immediate environment and work area to ensure the safety of the operator, other workers, the equipment and the public.

Operates various heavy equipment to assist in the maintenance and upkeep of the landfill; operates bulldozer, compactor, and/or scraper to move and compact waste and other materials to ensure proper placement, level, and contents of landfill mounds; operates same equipment to move and compact earth to provide a proper covering for landfill; keeps metal pile clean and assists with sorting of waste.

Operates milling and asphalt paving machines to grind existing pavement and lay down the new pavement for construction and maintenance of roads, parking lots and other paved surfaces; controls speed, depth and width spread/grinding of equipment; operates multiple mechanisms to control speed, volume and depth of asphalt application; monitors and oversees activities of crew workers assisting with the operation of equipment and application of asphalt.

Performs basic and semi-skilled labor as appropriate to assist in the completion of maintenance, upkeep and construction projects; picks up paper, limbs and other debris; uses hand tools and operates motorized tools as necessary to complete the assigned task.

May be required to use, carry and answer cell phones, use other electronic devices to receive and track work, and/or two-way radio as determined by their job duties and supervisor.

Performs other related duties as required.

This position is deemed essential during inclement weather situations, and must report to or remain at work, even when administrative closings are announced, as determined by the Department Head.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.


May be assigned or reassigned to any division within the department.

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma or GED and three (3) years of any combination of relevant education, experience, and/or training sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of this job or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid Class D driver's license

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:


Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions; general equipment and maintenance principles; materials and equipment utilized in assigned areas of responsibility; demonstrated proficiency on a minimum of three (3) types of heavy equipment to include three (3) years of experience operating heavy equipment. Typical equipment operated might include but is not limited to: excavators, rubber-tired loaders, compactor, scraper, wood chipper, paving machine, milling machine, motor grader, bulldozer, articulated dump truck, and backhoes. Must be able to use electronic devices to receive and track work.


Position requires minimal, but regular public interaction with the public and must be customer service centered, focused, and able to recognize or resolve customer needs according to departmental practices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: Y
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check / drug screening / lift test / TB screening questionnaire / TB skin test / complete physical screening / DOT Clearinghouse / HepB Titer / fingerprinting / CJIS check.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

CMC 2.26.2026