Landfill Equipment Operator

Full Job Description

Landfill Equipment Operator positions utilize complex heavy industrial motive and stationary equipment to move, cover, and compact refuse at the City's landfills; process green waste and other organics into soil amendments; haul and dump dirt or place alternative daily cover for refuse cover material; read, interpret and construct daily cells, stockpiles, and final cover systems per grade stakes depicting engineering design of the landfill; lift, move, and transfer landfill materials; perform minor maintenance to equipment; prepare usage and service logs; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Landfill Equipment Operator employees work a ten-hour day/four days per week rotating shift. Work shifts may include weekends, holidays, and may require overtime.

Landfill Equipment Operator employees who operate commercial vehicles are required by California State law, as a condition of employment, to submit to drug and alcohol testing.

Prior to hire, a background check will be completed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and with former employers regarding drug and alcohol testing results.

• Some Landfill Equipment Operator employees are required to maintain a valid Class A or B Driver License to retain employment.
• Some Landfill Equipment Operator employees are required to maintain a valid California Class A or B Driver License with an endorsement to retain employment.

Requirements

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. One year of full-time experience operating a heavy class bulldozer (equivalent to Caterpillar D-8 class or larger), a motor scraper (equivalent to Caterpillar 627 E class or larger), compactor (equivalent to Caterpillar 826 class or larger), or wheeled loader (equivalent to Caterpillar 962 class or larger).
2. Two years of full-time experience operating a medium class bulldozer (equivalent to Caterpillar D-6 or D-7), compactor, a motor scraper (equivalent to Caterpillar 815-816 class), or wheeled loader (equivalent to Caterpillar 926-950 series).
3. Two years of full-time experience as an Equipment Operator II or Equipment Operator III with the City of San Diego.

NOTES:

• If qualifying with Option 1 or 2, the name and model number of all qualifying equipment and the number of hours per week operating each piece of equipment MUST be clearly stated on the application.

City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours.

OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.




LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

NOTES:

• Some positions may require a valid California Class A or B Driver License AND a valid California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) medical certificate dated within the last two years at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Tank Endorsement at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Air Brakes Endorsement at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Hazmat Endorsement at the time of hire.




REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employee Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue – Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

Qualifications

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system.

If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.

Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days).

For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

Additional Information

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting.

Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report.

Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation.

All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins.

A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment.

Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego.

Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 4 – March 20, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)