Engineering Equipment Operator

National Cemetery Administration•Riverside, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. The Engineering Equipment Operator operates heavy equipment with multiple hand and foot controls, including backhoes and equipment fitted with front-end loaders, to dig, move, and load earth. The equipment is used to dig graves and prepare grave sites for first and subsequent interments. The operator also clears brush, tree stumps, and rocks and cleans underdeveloped land. Attachments are adjusted for the appropriate level, angle, and depth for the work and equipment. Work is generally performed on flat or rolling terrain at new or previously landscaped grave sites with simple terrain problems. The schedule may include Monday through Friday and occasional weekends. Staff may be required to work federal holidays, including Memorial Day each year, as well as overtime, weekends, and holidays when necessary to meet cemetery needs. Employees may occasionally be called back for emergency overtime. A compressed or flexible schedule is not available. The full-performance level is WG-08. Relocation expenses and recruitment or relocation incentives are not authorized. The work involves substantial physical effort and exposure to vibration, jolting, rough surfaces, noise, dust, dirt, fumes, weather, and potential equipment hazards. The operator works near grave markers and other obstacles, as well as underground utility lines and other site hazards. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the announcement closing date of October 21, 2026. No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must demonstrate relevant training or experience of sufficient scope and quality. The position has no education qualification requirement.

Requirements

Demonstrate training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
Provide detailed resume descriptions supporting the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.
Demonstrate the ability to perform the job without more than normal supervision.
Possess and maintain a valid REAL ID-compliant state driver's license.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
Be subject to a background or security investigation and possible designated or random drug testing.
Meet Selective Service registration requirements if a male born after December 31, 1959.
Complete the online onboarding process and serve a one-year probationary period if appointed.
Meet the requirements by the announcement closing date of October 21, 2026.

Responsibilities

Operate heavy equipment, such as backhoes, front-end loaders, graders, tractors with bulldozer or angledozer blades, trench diggers, and large industrial tractors with pan or scraper attachments.
Dig, push, pull, pile, and load earth, including transferring material into dump trucks.
Dig multiple graves and prepare grave sites for first and subsequent interments.
Clear brush, tree stumps, and rocks and clean underdeveloped land.
Adjust equipment attachments to the appropriate level, angle, and depth for the work.