Excellent Career Opportunity County of San Diego - Department of Public Works
EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
Practical Exams and Interviews Will Be Conducted on an Ongoing Basis
The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate’s qualifications at time of appointment
Future Salary Increases
** June 2026 – 5.33% increase to base pay (3.0% Across-the-Board + 2.33% Market Adjustment)
** June 2027 – 5.23% increase to base pay (2.90% Across-the- Board + 2.33% Market Adjustment)
The following additional pay incentives and premiums are available:
** $1,250 Recruitment Bonus
** Additional $1,250 Bonus after successful completion of the probation period***This hard to recruit position qualifies for the Employee Referral Reward Program. If a current County of San Diego employee referred you to apply for this position, please indicate the employee’s name on your job application in the space provided. ***
In addition to the base salary, employees in this job class may receive a fifty cent ($0.50) per hour premium while tree trimming, and a twenty-five cents ($0.25) per hour premium while operating a motor sweeper.
The County of San Diego is dedicated to providing essential services to its residents. The Department of Public Works (DPW) plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the infrastructure of our communities and is committed to excellence, integrity, and innovation in all that we do.
We are currently seeking a skilled Equipment Operator to join our team. As an Equipment Operator, you will maintain County storm drains, roadways, and/or rights-of-way to permit safe access and travel by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, and operate road repair and maintenance equipment necessary to maintain or repair roadways in compliance with design and safety regulations; and perform manual labor duties via the use of hand tools and hand work. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic and a commitment to safety.
The Department of Public Works has multiple vacancies in all geographical areas of the County and encourages applicants who live or wish to work in the following rural areas to apply: Campo, Julian, Fallbrook, and Valley Center.
Please be sure to check the boxes for all work locations in the County you are willing to accept when completing the application.
This video provides a preview on the County's Department of Public Works, entitled "Working for You", and provides a preview of what it's like to work on a road crew for the Department of Public Works.
Hiring Process and Timeline:
The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below.
I. Job Offer and Background Process begins: Shortly after the interviews.
Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
II. Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following
successful background investigation results.
III. Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful
completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.
If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.
Minimum Qualifications
Education, training, and/or experience, that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed above. Qualifying education/experience:
A valid California Class B driver's license with tank and air brake endorsements and a current medical card is required at time of appointment and both must be maintained throughout employment in this class; AND
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Two (2) years of experience in the construction or repair of roadways which included the operation of motorized equipment such as motor-graders, chippers, forklifts, skid-steer loaders striping equipment, backhoes, loaders, and dump trucks of various sizes and capacities; OR
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One (1) year of full-time experience as a Road Maintenance Worker with the County of San Diego.
Required Licenses, Certifications or Registrations
A valid California Class B driver's license with tank and air brake endorsements is required at time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment in this class. Some positions require possession of a California Class A driver's license. Employees in this class are subject to random drug testing per DOT guidelines.
Certification/Registration
A current medical certificate is required at time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
The Practical Exam is designed to assess applicants' skills in using the following equipment:
1. Five-yard dump truck
2. Loader
3. Shovels and hand tools
4. Fiber Roll
5. One of the three following pieces of equipment based on applicant's preference: Backhoe, Motorgrader, or Skidsteer.
In addition, the practical exam is designed to identify if the candidate possesses a valid California Class B (or higher) driver's license with tank and air brake endorsements. If you are invited to the practical exam, you must bring your license with you and present it upon request. Persons not possessing a California Class B license or higher with tank and air brake endorsements at the time of the practical exam will not be allowed to participate in the exam and will not continue.
Click Equipment Operator to review the complete job description including minimum qualifications, examples of duties, essential functions, etc.
On February 7, 2022, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) implemented the federal Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements for commercial driver license (CDL) applicants. ELDT must be conducted by a registered training provider listed on the federal Training Provider Registry (TPR).
In addition to the federal requirements, California resident applying for an original CDL (Class A or B) must complete a minimum of 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training and submit a California Commercial Driver Behind The Wheel Training Certification (DL 1236) to DMV as proof of completion prior to the issuance of their CDL.
For more information regarding ELDT, please visit https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
For more information about the TPR, visit: https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov
Blind Applicant Screening
The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all new recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.
Conditions of Employment
As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.
Evaluation
The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate, as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provide is accurate and qualifying.
Accommodation
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the job, on a case-by-case basis.
As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.
Veteran’s Preference Policy
The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.
Military Skills Translator
Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.
Strategic Plan
The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov (Download PDF reader)) (Download PDF reader).
Disaster Service Worker
Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.
Diversity & Inclusion
The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.
