Join the City of Chattanooga Team
Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.
Our Organization
As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:
Why Choose Chattanooga?
The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:
In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.
Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.
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Salary: GS.08 $23.19 - $28.02 per hour
Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*
Work Location: 1010 E. 11th Street Chattanooga, TN 37403
FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt position.
Department: Public Works - CWS Traffic Operations
SERIES LEVEL:
Transportation Equipment Operator is the fourth level in a five-level equipment operator series.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)
Operates various equipment and vehicles to complete tasks related to the maintenance, upkeep, installation and construction of City grounds, property, utilities, rights-of-way, and other infrastructure for Public Works and Parks & Recreation operations; drives vehicles over public roads, worksites, rights-of-way, parks, public works facilities and other City property.
Maneuvers in and around traffic, parked cars, equipment, utilities and other obstacles; obeys all traffic laws and safety guidelines; monitors immediate environment and work area to ensure the safety of the operator, other workers, the equipment and the public.
Drives bucket and/or lift truck to work site and operates lift mechanisms to elevate crews performing various maintenance, upkeep and installation for traffic systems, tree trimming and other tasks requiring access to high places; positions vehicle and lift-platform to ensure optimum access to required location and avoid power lines, low branches, traffic and other hazards; monitors activities to ensure the safety of crew workers.
Operates thermoplastic line striper and paint machines to mark pavement along City roads, parking lots and other paved surfaces; calibrates laser to aim spray mechanisms for accurate placement of markings; operates spray mechanisms to apply paint or traffic markings to pavement in accordance with the desired lines, arrows, messages or other symbols.
Place cones to indicate newly painted surfaces; disassembles and cleans spray nozzles and mechanisms.
Inspects and prepares equipment for safe and proper operation prior to beginning work for the day; performs light maintenance on equipment which includes changing oil, refueling and refilling lubricants; cleans vehicles, beds and mounted equipment upon completion of assignments; secures vehicle after use.
Leads assigned crew in safe and effective completion of assorted work in an assigned department, division or specialized area.
Operates vehicles and equipment in lower classifications as needed or assigned to complete division or departmental projects and workload.
Performs basic and semi-skilled labor as appropriate to assist in the completion of maintenance, upkeep and construction projects; picks up paper, limbs, and other debris; uses hand tools and operates motorized tools as necessary to complete assigned task; installs/maintains street signs and manually loads, moves and arranges materials.
May be required to use, carry and answer their cell phone as determined by their job duties and the Department Head.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
Performs other related duties such as working in lower level positions as required.
DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
High School Diploma or GED and two (2) years of any combination of relevant experience/training, training sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Hazardous materials endorsement preferred; or any combination of equivalent experience and education.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Valid Class D license required
Valid Class A, Class A restricted or Class B commercial driver license preferred
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions; general equipment and maintenance principles; materials and equipment utilized in assigned area of responsibility; demonstrated ability to drive and operate assigned equipment; operation of commercial vehicles that consist of self-contained specialized equipment; typical equipment operated might include but is not limited to: bucket trucks and thermoplastic paint machines.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: Y
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check / drug screening / 50 lb lift test
The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
KJS 08.04.2026
Chattanooga, the 4th largest city in the state, is located in Southeast Tennessee near the border of Georgia at the junction of four interstate highways. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its beautiful downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront. The city boasts the most productive affordable housing program in the nation, and is notable for leveraging development funds through effective public/private partnerships, with significant civic involvement on the part of private foundations. Chattanooga was one of the first US cities to effectively use a citizen visioning process to set specific long-range goals to enrich the lives of residents and visitors.
