Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer) - Direct Hire Authority

Full Job Description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement.

Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority These Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer) position are with the US Wildland Fire Service, WG-5716-10 working in the following location(s): Ely, Nevada Winnemucca, Nevada In order to be considered for any duty location, ensure desired locations are selected.

Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected. 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.

2.) You must have possessed the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management (qualifications to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required): Heavy Equipment Boss (HEQB) In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.

Only experience and education obtained by 03/09/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience. Minimum Qualification OPM Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations will be used in determining applicant's qualifications.

There is no specific length of training or experience required; however, the applicant must be able to demonstrate through experience shown in the resume materials, that they possess the skill level that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer) without more than normal supervision.

WG Screen-out Element: 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; and operating heavy equipment in a safe manner.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 5716 series utilizing education for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

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: Heavy physical effort is used by the operator in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle controls to operate the equipment and attachments.

Considerable strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating on rough surfaces.

During fire suppression assignments, the operator is exposed to smoky conditions, fire burns, and other similar conditions.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in all types of weather, often in an open driver's seat on hills, slopes, grades, rolling surfaces, and forests.

The operator is exposed to injury due to the possibility of the equipment overturning or to the possibility of being overrun by the wildfire. Major Duties:

As a Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer) - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Operates road graders, bulldozers, etc., to suppress wildfires or reclaim burned over areas.

Clears brush and other debris from fire lines and clears ground and otherwise operates equipment to reclaim sites. Operates lowboys or water tenders.

Operates a variety of heavy equipment on fire lines for the purpose of suppressing wildland fires. Maintains and repairs heavy equipment used in firefighting operations.

Operates equipment in a safe manner according to safety rules and regulations.