Equipment Operator

County of Madera
Madera, California
Full Time

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Equipment Operator

Salary

$51,613.97 - $63,478.67 Annually

Location

Madera, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Department

Public Works

Division

Maintenance & Operations

Opening Date

07/01/2025

Closing Date

7/16/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

SRVCE

Description
Benefits
Questions

Under direction, performs skilled operation of road maintenance equipment in the construction, repair, and maintenance of roads, bridges, drainage systems, and other County infrastructure; performs unskilled and semi-skilled manual labor; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

Examples of Duties

The job functions listed below are not inclusive or exclusive and are intended only as illustrations or examples of the various types of work that may be performed in various divisions/departments. Types of work performed shall be within the scope and licensure (if required) for the classification. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.

Performs a comprehensive range of equipment operation duties as part of a road and bridge maintenance crew, encompassing the maintenance, repair, and construction of roads, bridges, and drainage systems including operating a variety of heavy construction equipment, hand tools, and performing manual labor in the construction, maintenance, and repair of roads, bridges, drainage systems, and other County infrastructure.
Operates heavy construction equipment including motor graders, loaders, and backhoes; skillfully and safely operates equipment with a high degree of accuracy for moving materials to exact specifications.
Operates backhoe proficiently to excavate and backfill large trenches.
Utilizes motor graders and other tractors skillfully to excavate and fill earth precisely according to specifications.
Drives semi-trucks and trailer rigs proficiently to transport materials and equipment to designated work sites.
Responds to and performs duties required to clear road rights of way, including but not limited to removal of snow ice, and debris; sets up evacuation and detour routes during emergency operations such as severe inclement weather or fire events.
Participates in the removal of hazardous trees obstructing roadways.
Conducts pre-operation inspection of equipment to ensure that equipment is in safe and proper working order; performs routine maintenance and repair tasks on equipment and notifies supervisors and/or others of the need for moderate to major repairs or maintenance needed on equipment.
Cleans, maintains, and repairs tools.
Responds to on-call emergencies, including hazardous waste spills, as assigned.
Performs welding work, engages in steel fabrication, and conducts flame cutting of metals.
Provides guidance to field crews as needed on a project-by-project basis to ensure safe operating conditions for equipment and to complete assigned tasks.
Performs related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Methods, techniques, and practices of the safe and effective operation of heavy construction equipment including motor graders, loaders, and backhoes.
Methods, procedures, tools, materials, and equipment used in the construction, maintenance, and repair of roads, bridges, and related facilities.
Functions, operating methods, and maintenance required of a wide variety of heavy construction equipment used on various work sites.
Occupational hazards and safety equipment and practices related to the work.
Measure elevations and grades and cut roadways accordingly.
Methods, materials, equipment, and tools used in routine welding and fabrication work.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
The structure and content of the English language at a level necessary to successfully perform the work.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to the work performed.

Ability to:

Operate a variety of trucks and heavy road and bridge maintenance and construction equipment safely and with precision.
Recognize potentially hazardous conditions on the work site or with the equipment.
Troubleshoot and determine appropriate action in the maintenance and repair of a variety of heavy equipment.
Perform routine equipment maintenance.
Perform heavy physical labor.
Perform construction, modification, maintenance, and repair work in assigned areas.
Set up and operate traffic area construction zones, including cones, barricades, and flagging.
Read and interpret construction drawings, blueprints, maps, and specifications.
Make accurate arithmetic calculations.
Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to the work performed.
Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to the work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, at a level necessary to perform the work.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Formal or informal education or training which ensures the ability to read and write at a level necessary for successful job performance and two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in the maintenance, repair, and construction of roads, bridges, and drainage systems equivalent to that of a Road Worker II with Madera County.

Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain by date of appointment, an appropriate, valid Class "A" California Driver's License with endorsements for hazardous materials, tankers, and doubles issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in the field; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; frequently reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, stoop, squat, crouch, grasp and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; to climb and descend ladders, to operate varied hand and power tools and construction equipment, and to operate a motor vehicle and various light and heavy vehicles; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, to work in confining spaces and around machines; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone or radio. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds, or heavier weight with the use of proper equipment and assistance from other staff.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with members of the public or with staff under emotionally stressful conditions while interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS

May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and emergencies as needed.

Application Process

The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training and experience relative to the required knowledge and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only the most qualified applicants, who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the examination process which may be administered by a written examination, oral interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for the assessment listed below. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.

THE PERFORMANCE EXAM (100%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 2025.

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website All job postings are also included via the TDD phone at ... and the 24-hour job line at .... Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded), licenses and certificates to your application or your application may be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.

Those applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit a copy of their DD-214 form along with the application. Candidates who attain ranking on an eligible list and are involuntarily called to active duty may be considered for eligibility reinstatement upon their return.

Placement on Eligible List:

The Civil Service Commission may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the examination process. If two or more candidates have the same total final score on an examination, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in that portion of the examination which has the greatest weight. The names of two or more eligibles having final ratings which are identical shall be grouped on the eligible list as tie names with equal rank for certification and appointment purposes.

Candidates who are successful in all phases of the examination process will be placed on an eligible list, in rank order based on a calculation of their total score from the examination process. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of six (6) months or one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to section 6-4 (b) and may be extended for up to an additional year by the Commission.

Benefits of employment with the County of Madera include:

14 paid holidays per year;
1 sick leave day per month (unlimited accrual);
2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year, vacation accrual increasing thereafter with years of service (45 days maximum accrual);
Membership in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), with an enhanced 2.7% @ 55 retirement benefit formula (based on the highest 12 months with the employee paying 8% toward the retirement cost) for those individuals with current or prior qualifying public sector service that establishes eligibility as a "classic member" pursuant to the provisions of California's 2013 Pension Reform Act (Act) and CalPERS Regulations. Individuals with no current or prior qualifying public sector service, and who are defined as new members or new employees under the Act, will be eligible for the 2% @ 62 retirement benefit formula (based on the average compensation over 36 consecutive months with the employee paying 7.75% toward the retirement cost);
County participates in the Public Employees' Retirement System Health Benefit Program and for certain selected health plans, the County pays 95% of health insurance premium for employee and 50% for either two-party or dependent coverage;
Additional salary increases after 10, 15, and 20 years of service.

Do you have two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in the maintenance, repair, and construction of roads, bridges, and drainage systems equivalent to that of a Road Worker II with Madera County.

Do you have the possession or ability to obtain by date of appointment, an appropriate, valid Class "A" California Driver's License with endorsements for hazardous materials, tankers, and doubles issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles.

I understand that I must indicate the specific time period and distinct job title in the applications work experience section.