Equipment Operator II

Salary : $67,184.00 - $80,350.40 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: JR-T12051-202609
Business Area: N/A - Multiple Departments
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
Closing Date: 10/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


JOB INFORMATION
See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Equipment Operator II positions operate "medium class" construction equipment such as combination backhoes, loaders, bulldozers, asphalt distributors, hydraulic excavators, and motor graders to perform skilled construction, maintenance, and repair work in a variety of City departments; complete work requests and report forms; may lead the work of others; and perform other duties as assigned.


NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSCME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• In addition to the scheduled general wage increases, the following equity adjustment wage increases are also scheduled to take effect for Equipment Operator I:
  • 5% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Some positions may be required to enter and receive work activities on a laptop or tablet.
• Some positions may require a Confined Space Certification within six months from the date of hire. Employees in this position will be required to maintain the certification as part of condition of employment.
• Equipment Operator II employees who operate commercial vehicles are required by California State Law, as a condition of employment, to submit to drug and alcohol testing. Prior to hire, a background check will be completed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and with former employers regarding drug and alcohol testing results.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS


You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.


EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. One year of full-time experience operating industrial motive equipment similar to equipment operated by Equipment Operator I positions in the City of San Diego such as skip loaders, self-propelled roller compactors, motor graders on rough blade work, backhoes/extendahoe, asphalt distributors, trucks with boom crane combination, compressor trucks, cement mixer trucks, power sewer rodding machines, tractors with gang or rotary mower/turf sweeper combination, compact excavators, flushers, combination cleaners, lowboy (trailer), or other equipment of comparable difficulty.
2. One year of full-time experience operating "medium class" industrial motive equipment similar to equipment operated by Equipment Operator II positions in the City of San Diego such as D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers, motor graders on skilled blade work, articulating loaders (e.g., Case 621, 721, or larger), backhoes/extendahoe (e.g., Case 580 or larger), or other equipment of comparable difficulty.
3. Six months of full-time Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience and/or on-the-job training (1040 hours) as an Equipment Operator II with the City of San Diego.

NOTES:

• Driving the equipment only without actually operating it to perform construction, maintenance, repair, and other intended work is NOT qualifying.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class A or B Driver License AND a valid California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) medical certificate dated within the last two years are required at the time hire. Candidates will generally be required to show proof of their commercial driver license and DMV medical certificate within about two weeks of receiving a conditional job offer.


NOTES:

• Some positions may require a valid California Class A Driver License AND a valid California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) medical certificate dated within the last two years at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Tank Endorsement at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Hazmat Endorsement at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Leadership ability/supervisory experience.
• Confined Space Certification.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of on-the-job training, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: View phone number on click.appcast.io; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

SCREENING PROCESS


The screening process will consist of the following components:

1. APPLICATION REVIEW: Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.
2. PERFORMANCE TEST: If it is administratively necessary, based upon the number of applications, all qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a performance test. The performance test is a pass/fail examination which consists of the following exercise: Start up, safe operation, and shutdown of a "medium class" combination backhoe.

NOTES:

• Performance test weight.....100%
• Performance Test Date: The performance test will be held the week of October 26th. Approved applicants will be notified regarding the specific date, time, and location. You must have a Performance Test Appointment Notice in order to be admitted to the test.
• A valid California Class C Driver License is required to operate the combination backhoe equipment to be used in the performance test. You must present your Class C Driver License at the performance test or you will be disqualified

PERFORMANCE TEST WAIVER

• If you are currently an Equipment Operator II or Equipment Operator III with the City of San Diego, you do not need to take the performance test.
• If you were placed on the eligible list for recruitments T11903; T11947; or T11983 you do not need to take the Performance Test for this recruitment.

Candidates who pass the performance test will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION


PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.


Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).


Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01


I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03


If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04


The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05


How many years of full-time experience do you have operating industrial motive equipment similar to equipment operated by Equipment Operator I positions in the City of San Diego (e.g., skip loaders, self-propelled roller compactors, motor graders on rough blade work, backhoes/extendahoe, asphalt distributors, trucks with boom crane combination, compressor trucks, cement mixer trucks, power sewer rodding machines, tractors with gang or rotary mower/turf sweeper combination, compact excavators, flushers, vactors, lowboy (trailer), or other equipment of comparable difficulty)?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06


Indicate which of the following types of industrial motive equipment you have full-time experience operating.

• Skip loaders.
• Self-propelled roller compactors.
• Motor graders on rough blade work.
• Backhoes/extendahoe.
• Asphalt distributors.
• Trucks with boom crane combination.
• Compressor trucks.
• Cement mixer trucks.
• Power sewer rodding machines.
• Tractors with gang or rotary mower/turf sweeper combination.
• Compact excavators.
• Flushers.
• Combination cleaners.
• Lowboy (trailer).
• Other equipment of comparable difficulty.
• None of the above.

07


Describe your full-time experience operating the following types of industrial motive equipment: a. Skip loaders; b. self-propelled roller compactors; c. motor graders on rough blade work; d. backhoes/extendahoes; e. asphalt distributors; f. trucks with boom crane combination; g. compressor trucks; h. cement mixer trucks; i. power sewer rodding machines; j. tractors with gang or rotary mower/turf sweeper combination; k. compact excavators; l. flushers; m. combination cleaners; n. lowboy (trailer); o. other equipment of comparable difficulty. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience on a specific equipment, write "None."
08


How many years of full-time experience do you have operating "medium class" industrial motive equipment similar to equipment operated by Equipment Operator II positions in the City of San Diego (e.g., D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers, motor graders on skilled blade work, articulating loaders (e.g., Case 621, 721, or larger), backhoes/extendahoe (e.g., Case 580 or larger), or other equipment of comparable difficulty)?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

09


Indicate which of the following types of "medium class" industrial motive equipment you have full-time experience operating.

• D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers.
• Motor graders on skilled blade work.
• Articulating loaders (e.g., Case 621, 721, or larger).
• Backhoes/extendahoe (e.g., Case 580 or larger).
• Other equipment of comparable difficulty.
• None of the above.

10


Describe your full-time experience operating the following types of "medium class" industrial motive equipment: a. Class D-4 or D-6 bulldozers; b. motor graders on skilled blade work; c. articulating loaders (e.g., Case 621, 721 or larger); d. backhoes/extendahoes (e.g., Case 580 or larger); e. other equipment of comparable difficulty. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
11


For City of San Diego employees, how many months of full-time Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience do you have as an Equipment Operator II with the City of San Diego? NOTE: Attach proof of OCA to your application.

• None
• Less than 6 months
• 6 months to less than 12 months
• 12 months to less than 18 months
• 18 months to less than 24 months
• 24 months to less than 30 months
• 30 months or more

12


For City of San Diego employees, how many hours of on-the-job training experience do you have as an Equipment Operator II with the City of San Diego? NOTE: Attach proof of on-the-job training to your application.

• None
• Less than 1040 hours
• 1040 hours to less than 2080 hours
• 2080 hours to less than 3120 hours
• 3120 hours to less than 4160 hours
• 4160 hours to less than 5200 hours
• 5200 hours or more

13


I understand I will be required to provide proof of my commercial driver license and DMV medical certificate if I receive a conditional job offer (generally within two weeks after the offer).

• Yes
• No

14


Describe your lead/supervisory experience in the areas listed below: a. Scheduling assigned functions and ensuring that work is performed correctly; b. reviewing/approving time cards; c. interviewing, selecting and/or recommending qualified personnel for subordinate positions; d. providing orientation and on-the-job training to ensure that responsibilities are understood by subordinates; e. monitoring and evaluating the performance of employees through evaluations which you have written, signed and administered; f. recommending/ administering personnel actions for employee recognition, counseling and/or discipline. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area, and the total length of your experience.
15


I understand that I am required to present a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of the performance test.

• Yes
• No

16


Were you placed on the eligible list for Equipment Operator II - T11853; T11903; or T11947?

• Yes
• No

17


Are you currently an Equipment Operator II or Equipment Operator III with the City of San Diego?

• Yes
• No

Required Question