Engineering Equipment Operator

Summary

This Engineering Equipment Operator position is within the Facilities Management Service at the Bedford VA Healthcare System, located in Bedford, Massachusetts. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

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Duties

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This position is located at an assigned Veterans Affairs medical facility performing work to handle different sets of controls to operate the equipment and attachments involved in the operation of gasoline- and diesel-powered engineering, and construction equipment with wheeled traction. Work is generally performed on flat or rolling terrain and paved roads. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Requires to work with minimal supervision to perform a wide variety of duties to improve and maintain the appearance of lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, walkways, recreational areas, roads and parking lots at this facility.
• Removes trash and debris around the station and when the weather demands shovels and removes snow using hand, power, and heavy equipment.
• Operates one or more types of heavy equipment to push, pull, pile, or load materials such as sand, gravel, earth, snow, or refuse.
• Operates all facility owned or rental equipment to perform such functions as cutting, moving, digging, grading, and rolling earth, sand, stone, and other materials.
• Operates all facility owned or rental snow removal heavy equipment.
• Operates one or more types of heavy equipment to excavate, backfill, grade, or level earth to rough specifications on such projects as breaking new ground for trails, roads, tunnels, or construction sites.
• Moves earth on steep slopes, graded curves and shoulders, rocky or soft ground, and other surfaces with similar rough features, graded surfaces, compact soils, or roll to exact specifications on flat or rolling terrain.
• Adjusts attachments for proper positioning and working order usually without stopping the power unit or the equipment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:00am to 3:30pm

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available

Position Description Title/PD#: Engineering Equipment Operator/PD03709A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Notifications :

• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by a special rate.
• This position is not in the Bargaining Unit.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Must possess a current, valid, state-issued, drivers license.
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/17/2026.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: A current, valid, state issued Driver's License is required for this position.

NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore, please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid-state issued Driver's License.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)
• Motor Vehicles
• Shop Aptitude
• Shop Practices
• Without more than normal supervision

Preferred Experience: Heavy Equipment Operator

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; religions; 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.

Note : A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements

a. requires moderate to heavy physical effort with constantly reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet and legs to operate different controls and attachments on various types of equipment.

b. requires frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, jumping, and exposure to constant vibrations and jolting caused by movement of equipment over uneven and rough terrain, and running of other power tools.

c. requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows.

d. requires lifting and moving weight exceeding 50 pounds with or without assistance.

e. occasionally moves heavier items with assistance of other workers or mechanical lifting devices.

f. requires the ability to climb ladders and stretch to reach tree limbs

g. may cause considerable strain by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating over rough surfaces.

h. may frequently be required to work in awkward or strained positions because of the location of some of the controls and attachments on the equipment.\

i. is somewhat more strenuous because of the generally larger pieces of equipment and the requirement for more frequent adjustments under more adverse operating conditions.

Working Conditions:

a. Work is performed outside subject to discomfort from long periods in the sun, and cold, windy or inclement weather, being exposed to insects, dirt, dust, mud, water and sometimes to chemical sprays and dusts,

b. Incumbent shall perform snow and ice removal using equipment, hand tools, in addition to chemicals of various types, without injury to plant material.

c. Incumbent performs work in all types of weather, often in an open driver's seat or platform, on hills, slopes, grades, and rolling surfaces.

d. Incumbent will wear personal protective equipment such as protective clothing, gloves, and safety shoes/boots as required and is mandatory.

e. There is chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls.

f. Incumbent is subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from motors and exhausts.

g. Incumbent may be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85dBA for up to eight (8) hours per day. This exposure may adversely affect hearing. Wearing of hearing protection that will contain the noise level to 85dBA or below is mandatory while operating equipment. While wearing hearing protection devices, the incumbent must still be able to hear at a level to perform duties in a safe manner.

h. Incumbent may be exposed to injury due to the possibility of the equipment overturning.

i. The position is required to work shifts other than their normal tour of duty when the situation dictates. These assignments will be determined by the Grounds Supervisor.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.