Equipment Operator

Equipment Operator Senior CDL Pathway

The Street Maintenance Equipment Operator Senior operates heavy duty backhoe/front end loader and heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of items within the City of Charlotte.

The department's Equipment Operator Senior position requires a valid CDL Class A license. This Equipment Operator Senior CDL Pathway position allows for experienced equipment operators to join team Charlotte without already having a valid CDL Class A license upon hire. Selected applicants for this role will be given time to earn their Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) permit upon hire and will be sent to an offsite full-time CDL Class A 8-week licensure course. The work hours during this 8-week course will be 7:30am 5:30pm Monday through Friday. Once the course is complete and the CDL Class A license has been obtained, selected applicants will then be placed within a crew to perform the Equipment Operating function full time. The work schedule will then be 7:00am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday from that point forward. The start date for this position will be October 5, 2026.

Salary Range: $26.27 - $27.00

Function: Skilled Trades

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operates heavy equipment that could include: gradall, front-end loader, backhoe, tandem dump truck, track-hoe, paving machine, etc.
• Hauls material to and from job sites; participating in loading and unloading of materials.
• Performs manual labor tasks; i.e. digging trenches, etc.
• Assumes leadership role and completes paperwork in the absence of the crew chief; assists crew supervisor in supervising the crews on the jobsite.
• Locates underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning construction work.
• Assists the crew chief in establishing grades, setting batter boards, forming and placing concrete, backfilling, etc.
• Performs routine inspections of equipment for mechanical readiness and safety.
• Complies with work and safety rules, OSHA regulations, and work hazard rules/regulations.
• Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
• Participates in large-scale field operations for street grading, construction, and repair.
• Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Safety- Knowledge of OSHA, City, and Federal rules and regulations, work hazards, and applicable safety precautions of the assigned work.
• Transportation- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by road specifically, including laws and ordinances regulating the operation of vehicles.
• Customer and Personal Service- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Construction- Knowledge of materials, methods, tools, and procedures used in the construction and maintenance of streets.
• Operation and Control- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to ensure a machine works properly.
• Monitoring- Monitoring/Assessing the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements.
• Coordination- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Equipment Maintenance- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what maintenance is needed.
• Troubleshooting- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Critical Thinking- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Management of Personnel Resources- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work.
• Speaking- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Control Precision- The ability to adjust the controls of a machine or vehicle quickly and repeatedly.
• Depth Perception- The ability to judge which of several objects is close or further away from you, or judge the distance between you and an object.
• Near and Far Vision- The ability to see details at a close range or a distance.
• Manual Dexterity- The ability to quickly move your hand, arm, or two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Rate Control- The ability to time your movements or movements of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Reaction Time- The ability to quickly respond to a signal when it appears.
• Oral Comprehension- The ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Physical Abilities include but are not limited to sitting, standing, bending, twisting, reaching, kneeling/squatting, walking, driving, crawling, climbing, lifting and carrying (up to 75lbs), shoveling, pushing, and pulling.
• Ability to successfully complete a skills assessment as a part of the interview process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least two-years' experience in the independent operation of complex construction equipment such as backhoes, track-hoes, front-end loaders, paving machines, excavators, and tandems.
• Qualified external candidates without a Valid Class A commercial driver's license are currently eligible to apply but must meet the following criteria to attend a paid CDL Class A program upon hire. The program requirements are:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Possess a valid North Carolina Driver's License with no limiting restrictions
• Obtain a Class A Learner's Permit with no limiting restrictions
• Pass a DOT Physical and hold a valid DOT medical card
• Complete and pass a DOT Drug Screen
• Ability to obtain and maintain a CDL tanker endorsement within 6 months of hire, after initial CDL A license is obtained.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Roadway construction experience.
• OSHA 10-Hour Certification

Conditions of Employment:

The City's Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate's written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

How to Apply:

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday