Summary This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This Engineering Equipment Operator (Fire), WG- 5716-9 working in working in the following location(s): Anchorage, Alaska $44.05 Niceville, Florida $36.60 Manteo, North Carolina $35.62 Responsibilities As a Engineering Equipment Operator (Fire), your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Uses a variety of gasoline or diesel-powered fire equipment with wheel or crawler traction, attachments, pumps and saws. Operates crawler tractors with fire plow attachments during fire suppression and prescribed and burning operations. Performs daily preventative maintenance and makes repairs and adjustments to equipment and attachments. Participates in fire management using prescribed fire and or the control of wildfires on the refuge as a member of team approach. Operates a variety of gasoline or diesel-powered engineering and construction equipment with wheeled or crawler-@type traction and attachments Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 03/12/2026 will be considered. By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation. http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements. The screen out element for this position is: Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation) Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability To Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle) 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. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system. Physical Demands: This is an arduous duty position requiring prolonged standing, driving, walking over uneven rocky or swampy ground, recu1wnt bending, walking, bending, chopping, swatting, lifting, operating heavy equipment, and other forms of extreme physical exertion in rough terrain, under severe (hot/smoky) conditions. May carry heavy backpack water pump (approximately 60 pounds). Heavy physical effort is used in the operation and adjustment of the equipment and attachments. Considerable strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jolting received from operation of the equipment over rough surfaces. Location of the controls and attachments frequently require work in awkward or strained positions. As a line firefighter, this position requires that the incumbent meet and maintain physical requirements at the arduous level. Must be able to pass the physical requirements of the assigned functions. Types of Equipment: Is proficient in operating the following equipment: crawler tractors with fire plow attachments; dozers (above the D-6 size) with implements; loader (front end); loader/backhoe; dump truck; straight truck (hauling small equipment); truck/tractor (hauling large equipment outside the local commuting area); farm tractors with implements; excavator; and road graders. Work Specifications: Conducts grading of slope, spreading materials, disking, chopping, mowing, rotovating, digging, loading and leveling to a medium, and/or grade for the purpose or shaping of roads and parking lots, and setting of culverts where levels are essential to accommodate rain runoff and water level functions. Maintenance and Repair: Services equipment by checking fluids, lubricating, and performing safety checks; performs regular scheduled service that includes changing fluids and filters, and replacing of components that require dismantling of the equipment such as radiators, hydraulic tanks, alternator, tracks, etc. and replaces worn items such as excavator bucket teeth Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional Information PCS INFORMATION: PCS entitlements authorized - Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale. Official U.S. Wildland Fire Service uniform is required. Telework: This position is not suitable for telework. This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. Probation Period Continued: The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:- your performance and conduct;- the needs and interests of the agency;- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on an RPL, you may be given priority consideration. Telework: This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area. Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
