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Engineering Equipment Operator

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Lower Potomac Field Station

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.

This position is located in Lorton, VA. Information about the surrounding area can be found here: Visit Fairfax County Virginia and here: BLM Lower Potomac Field Station.

We expect to fill 1 vacancy; however, additional positions may be filled if available.

Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/23/2026 to 03/09/2026
Salary
$31.20 to - $36.24 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Lorton, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Multiple - This is a temporary appointment. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours in a service year.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
8
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ESTEMP-26-12885189-GC
Control number
858472600

Duties

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  • Operate heavy gasoline or diesel-powered equipment, including motor graders, tractors with attachments, dozer tractors, front-end loaders.
  • Operate backhoes, excavators, and brush cutters to reconstruct and maintain gravel or surfaced highways and timber access roads.
  • Although the primary responsibility is the operation of equipment, operators may also engage in operating forklifts to load and unload materials in an indoor/outdoor environment.
  • As completing minor maintenance projects such as cleaning culverts and ditches, installing cattle guards, culverts, signs and/or fences, and basic carpentry.
  • Light maintenance and minor repairs on gasoline or diesel-powered engineering and construction equipment and/or motor vehicles.
  • Assist with conducting assessments of existing road conditions to determine road maintenance needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status. The incumbent is required to wear the uniform in accordance with applicable policies and be required to sign a condition of uniform wear statement.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
  • You must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A, B or C endorsement.
  • This is a Drug Testing Designated Position. You will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use and pass prior to appointment. This position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified:

  • Screen-out Element: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
  • Screen-out Element: Have a current valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
  • Screen-out Element: Operate one or more of the following small and large wheeled diesel-powered construction equipment such as crawlers (D-6), bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, brush-cutters, and front-end loaders on my own, under normal supervision.
WG-08: At this level, Engineering Equipment Operators follow oral instructions and written work orders largely without direct supervision. They make independent decisions on technical matters, and they may act as crew lead on projects with multiple operators. On highly technical projects they would operate under the guidance of a higher graded engineer.

MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Employees required to operate a motor vehicle must be at least 18.

OPM Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations will be used in determining your qualifications. There is no specific length of training or experience required; however, you must be able to demonstrate through experience shown in the resume materials, that you possess the skill level that has equipped you with the particular job elements to successfully perform the duties of Engineering Equipment Operator without more than normal supervision.

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; religious; 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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Heavy physical effort is extended by the operator in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, legs, and feet to operate the equipment and attachments. Considerable strain is caused by the vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating in rough terrain. The location of the controls causes the incumbent to work in awkward or strained positions for significant amounts of time. Required to lift, carry and position items weighting up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment: Work is performed in all types of weather to include excessive heat and cold, in rough terrain on hillsides and small canyons. You will be exposed to injury from cutting blades and the possibility of the equipment turning over, and is subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from motor exhaust and from insecticide and herbicide. Required safety equipment must be worn at all times when so exposed.

Education

Education may not be used to qualify for this position.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

This position is not eligible for Telework.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment.

If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)?. The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under "internal" merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15. Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?).

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following job elements required to do the work of this position:

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles)
  • Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation)
  • Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles)
  • Reliability and Dependability
  • Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order)

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