TxDOT's Refugio Co. Maintenance Office is hiring an Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator Specialist, or Equipment Operator Senior. This position helps lead a team of Roadway Maintenance Technicians to make roads safer while gaining additional skills in leadership and roadway maintenance work. At TxDOT, safety is at the forefront of everything we do and our strong safety culture starts with you and the team you will be leading and training. As an Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator Specialist, or Equipment Operator Senior, you will report to the Maintenance Section Supervisor and assist with tasks of the section and also training other employees on the operations of equipment. You will also be working with private entities on TxDOT's behalf. If you are ready to grow an exciting career, apply now!

Annual Salary Ranges:

Equipment Operator: (A18) $45,521 - $71,055
Equipment Operator Specialist: (A19) $48,244 - $76,028
Equipment Operator Senior: (A20) $51,158 - $81,351

The Texas Department of Transportation reserves the sole right in determining the level position based on the applicant's work experience, education, skill level, and all other appropriate factors and based on business needs.

At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:

• Retirement Plans
• Alternative and/or Flexible Work Schedules
• Paid Leave and Holidays
• Health Premiums paid at 100% for Full-Time Employees
• On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives
• Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
• Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

In 2024, TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents, and many of our offices statewide are also designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites. These recognitions reflect our dedication to supporting families and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package
To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov)

Performs complex transportation maintenance work operating heavy equipment such as: a tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt distributor, profiling/milling machine, and dump truck. Work requires contact with private entities. Employees at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Essential Duties for Equipment Operator:

• Assists in providing support to local law enforcement officials at accident sites; assists stranded motorists as required.
• Assists with traffic control; places and gathers cones, warning signs and barricades; flags traffic.
• Operates light equipment such as a front-end loader one and a quarter cubic yards or less, pneumatic roller, rotary broom, spreader box, backhoe, street sweeper, and mower.
• Operates one or more types of complex heavy equipment such as tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt profiling/milling machine and dump truck.
• Performs preventive maintenance inspections (PMI), routine servicing and minor repairs on equipment; as required uses/moves equipment/tools, materials and products related to these activities to include tires and equipment attachments.
• Operates tractor-trailer haul trucks to relocate heavy and light equipment including loading, securing, and unloading equipment on haul trailers in compliance with federal, state, and Department motor vehicle laws, regulations, and standards.
• May train other employees on the operation of equipment and safety procedures.
• Operates heavy equipment performing highly complex transportation maintenance and roadway repairs.
• Sands or cleans bridges and roads, posting warning signs, helping the public and performing other work as directed during emergency situations such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms, accidents and hazardous material spills.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Essential Duties for Equipment Operator Specialist (In addition to the above):

• Trains other employees on equipment operation and safety procedures.

• May coordinate equipment operations for daily work assignments.

Essential Duties for Equipment Operator Senior (In addition to the above):

• Serves as a work crew project lead ensuring work performed meets project specifications.

• Coordinates equipment operations for daily work assignments.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

No education required.

Experience:

Equipment Operator: 1 year experience*, Equipment Operator Specialist: 2 years experience*, Equipment Operator Senior: 4 years experience*

*Experience in maintenance or construction equipment operation. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Related college education or relevant technical training may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.
• Must have a valid Texas Commercial Driver's License class "A" with an "N" endorsement for equipment operation at time of application.
• Commercial Driver Certificate-issued at time of hire
• Safety Impact Certificate-issued at time of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

Texas Commercial Driver's License with "N" endorsement

Competencies for Equipment Operator:

• Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes
• The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Basic vehicle mechanics, maintenance and repair procedures
• Operating light and heavy highway equipment
• Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others
• Maintaining a safe working environment
• Communicate effectively
• Follow verbal and written instructions

Competencies for Equipment Operator Specialist (In addition to the above):

• Coordinating labor, materials, and equipment
• Prioritizing and organizing work assignments
• Using applicable hand and power tools, equipment, and mechanical devices of the trade

Competencies for Equipment Operator Senior (In addition to the above):

• Methods, procedures, equipment, and materials used in intermodal transportation engineering construction and maintenance work

• Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes

• Methods and procedures involving storage & transport of hazardous materials

• Communicate effectively

• Drive and ride in a vehicle for extended periods

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Subject to environmental conditions; protection from weather but not temperature changes
• Subject to outside environmental conditions; no effective weather protection
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Subject to extreme cold and heat; below 32 and above 100 degrees for more than one hour
• Subject to noise
• Subject to vibration
• Subject to hazards-moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals
• Subject to atmospheric conditions-fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation
• Subject to air and skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids
• Required to wear protective gear-respirator, hard hat, or other device
• Works frequently in small/crawl spaces; manholes; areas that can cause claustrophobia
• Works in narrow aisles or passageways

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.
• Required to work weekends and holidays.
• Required to work hours other than 8 to 5.
• Required to work under exposure to inclement weather conditions.
• Required to wear personal protective equipment provided by employer and comply with all safety requirements.
• Must be able to report for duty within 45 minutes of notification on a 24-hour basis to respond to emergency situations.

TxDOT is committed to hiring veterans. To assist in determining whether your military experience may pertain to the minimum requirements for this position, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces have been assigned to each state classification code/title where applicable. The MOS codes are grouped by occupational category.

To view the MOS codes please click on link below and click on the appropriate occupational category.

https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions

The Texas Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities for any part of the employment process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Action of 1990.

Please click this link to read the information for applicants: Additional Applicant Information