Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer Operator)
What you'd do
This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This position is an Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer Operator) , WG- 5716-8 working in Lame Deer, Montana for the US Wildland Fire Service.
Major duties
As an Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer Operator), your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Operate heavy gasoline or diesel-powered engineering equipment such as crawler tractors, with or without fire plow attachments during fire suppression, fuels management, and prescribed burning operations. As a trained and experienced primary wildland firefighter, this position is expected to perform fire suppression and pre-suppression tasks and use specialized hand tools such as fire flaps, scrapping tools, shovel, backpack pumps and cutting tools to suppress wildfire or to maintain fuel breaks and fire access roads. Participate in wildland fire management activities and provide guidance and instruction to crewmembers as required. Operate a Fire Dozer in support of firefighting operations on public roads and over rough terrain. Perform daily preventative maintenance and make repairs and adjustments to equipment and attachments.
What you need to qualify
In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Selective Placement Factor(s): 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. 1. 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 08/17/2026 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. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered qualified and referred for consideration; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The screen out element for this position is: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. This must be verifiable on your application. Work is defined as: operating a variety of heavy equipment such as road graders, bulldozers, lowboys and water tenders. 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. Working Conditions: Work is accomplished in both an indoor and outdoor setting. When working in the field, extreme temperatures are common in weather and fire. Smoke and dust conditions are frequently severe. The incumbent is exposed to injury due to the possibility of overturning equipment or being overrun by wildfire. The incumbent is subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, fumes from the motor and exhaust, and smoke from wildfires. Work demands conformance to safety requirements including the use of a variety of personal protective equipment such as hardhats, goggles, Nomex clothing, gloves, heavy leather boots, respirator and other items.
Before you apply
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