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Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic (Forklift Operator)-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Department of the Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command

Summary

Veteran's preference does not apply to DHA recruitment.
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for more information.

The primary purpose of this position is to maintain, troubleshoot, overhaul, repair, and modify a variety of heavy duty vehicles and mobile equipment which have utility systems or special hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical or electronic systems, features, or controls.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/17/2026 to 05/02/2026
Salary
$44.60 - $52.04 per hour

Salary listed is EDWARDS AFB, if you are selected for a different location your salary is dependent upon that duty location and step.

Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Edwards AFB, CA
Eglin AFB, FL
Holloman AFB, NM
Nellis AFB, NV
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
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
AFMC-580310-12938536-SEC
Control number
865480000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

Duties

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  • Troubleshoots hard-to-locate problems, identifies defects and causes of mechanical problems to determine type and extent of necessary repairs to a variety of heavy mobile vehicles and equipment.
  • Repairs, overhauls, and rebuilds a variety of heavy mobile equipment/vehicles such as bulldozers, road graders, power shovels, mobile cranes, heavy combat equipment, and missile transporters, including their major systems, i.e.,diesel, multi-fuel, and gasoline engines (including supercharged and turbocharged), automatic/manual transmissions, multi-gear assemblies, and a variety of positioning systems.
  • Makes repairs that can be accomplished by removing, replacing, adjusting, and cleaning defective parts or components such as spark plugs, fan belts, generators, starters, carburetors, fuel and water pumps, mufflers, tail pipes, wheel bearings, brakes, radiators, engine components and heating and cooling devices.
  • Performs scheduled and unscheduled preventive maintenance on vehicles to restore automotive equipment to a serviceable condition.
  • Conducts functional and performance tests using a wide variety of test procedures and equipment on completed work assignments.
  • Operates one or more electric, LPG, or diesel powered forklift trucks which are capable of lifting loads of less than 10,000 pounds as high as 168 inches to facilitate loading and unloading duties.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.
  • Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
  • This position may require drug testing and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
  • Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
  • Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • This position may require travel.
  • Works in tiring or uncomfortable positions for long periods. The work requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, stretching, climbing and crouching.
  • Works both inside and outside. Worker is exposed to irritations and discomfort from dust, heat and fumes.
  • Follows prescribed safety practices and uses safety equipment.
  • Must be able to pass a pre-employment physical
  • May require certification for servicing and maintaining automotive air conditioning systems.
  • The work may require the employee to drive a motor vehicle. An appropriate, valid driver's license may be required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the quality level of experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook X-118C.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standard Handbook X-118C for the Transportation/Mobile Equipment Maintenance Family. Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most blue-collar positions, you must meet any screen-out element listed, and show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

The screen out element for this position is Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision

JOB ELEMENTS: Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
Use of Measuring Instruments
Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (Includes blueprint reading)
Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
Trouble shooting

Ideal Candidate

Knowledge of technical practices in order to repair/overhaul major systems (i.e., diesel, multi-fuel, and gasoline engines, automatic and manual transmissions, multi-gear assemblies, and a variety of positioning systems) and to remove, replace, clean, and install a variety of parts, components, and accessories (i.e., wheel cylinders, universal joints, springs, shock absorbers, catalytic converters, clutch assemblies, mufflers, etc.).
Skill in using measuring instruments and test equipment such as test lamps, timing lights, multimeters, swell meters, engine analyzers, dynamometers, exhaust analyzers, vacuum and fuel pump testers, injector testers, ignition timers, tachometers, ammeters, and ohmmeters.
Ability to maintain and repair combustion-powered automotive vehicles, electric-powered vehicles and equipment, towed vehicles and equipment, over-the-road trucks, and comparable vehicles without more than normal supervision.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

This job announcement may close at any time - apply now!

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

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.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Air Force Materiel Command

The mission of the United States Air Force is: To fly, fight, and win ... Airpower anytime, anywhere. To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: Developing Airmen, Technology-to-Warfighting and Integrating Operations. Core competencies and distinctive capabilities are based on a shared commitment to three core values -- integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.

Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide:

  • US Citizen

Agency contact information

Air Force Test Center Recruitment
Email
AFTC.Enterprise.Recruiting@us.af.mil
Address
AF Test Center
6437 6th Street
Bldg 430, Rm 119
Hill AFB, UT 84056
US

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