Operating Engineer, Universal (7328) Citywide (U00050)

Under general supervision the Operating Engineer Universal operates heavy construction equipment in conjunction with the maintenance and construction of roads streets and underground utilities and performs servicing on equipment. The essential functions of this job include: operating backhoes loaders cranes motor graders bulldozers rollers pavers milling machines forklifts extended boom forklifts tractors and tub grinders; and performing related duties and responsibilities as required. Operating Engineers also perform maintenance tasks such as greasing cleaning and inspecting equipment; and may be required to calculate loads using equipment load charts. This position may require the ability to wear appropriate forms of safety protection equipment such as ear protectors eye goggles respirators and safety vests.

Nature of Work: This position requires sustained physical effort frequently under adverse weather conditions and/or disagreeable working conditions being exposed to hazardous materials raw sewage loud noises; and may include working weekends nights holidays and/or temporarily outside the San Francisco city limits.

Essential Duties: 

1. Operates backhoes loaders cranes forklifts and extended forklifts to hoist machinery
construction materials chemicals vegetation connection with various construction and maintenance projects.
2. Operates motor graders bulldozers rollers planers pavers milling machines and tub
grinders in connection with construction and maintenance projects.
3. Services and makes minor repairs to heavy equipment; tasks include lubrication of
equipment changing oil and oil filter etc.
4.  Operates backhoes loaders and bulldozers to trench and excavate areas and remove
debris; or to load and backfill materials in connection with sewer and street repair
mudslide prevention dam maintenance and other projects and heater planer in
excavating and making street repairs.
5. Operates milling machines pavers and rollers in connection with asphalt paving.
6.  Operates tractors with agricultural attachments such as rototillers to clear areas for weed
and fire control.
7.  Operates an air compressor to operate pneumatic tools and other construction equipment. 

8. Prepares and maintains routine records of equipment operations.

Qualifications :

How to Qualify 

Three (3) years of verifiable operating engineer experience. At least one (1) year of this experience must have been in operating a backhoe;
                                                        AND
2. Possession of a Class B Drivers License and a valid Medical Examiners Certificate issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A copy of the certificate must be submitted at the time of appointment. 

For crane operation must have a valid certificate of competency issued in accordance with Cal/OSHA by an accredited certifying agency for the type of cranes operated by City Departments.

Special conditions: Some positions may require additional qualifications such as special conditions that may differ from the standard minimum qualifications associated with this classification.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification of Education and Experience:

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.  

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required information on how to verify education requirements including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency can be found at  ones education training or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

SELECTION PROCEDURES
After application submission candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process which includes the following:

1. In-Person Performance (100%)

Performance (100%)
Candidates deemed qualified will be admitted to an in-person performance exam designed to measure knowledge skills and/or abilities in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: Ability to operate heavy equipment related to maintenance construction grading operations trenching/excavating loading/backfilling; knowledge of safety practices and regulations for heavy equipment; and communication skills.

Note: A passing score must be achieved on the exam component in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list.
Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

What else should I know

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established so applicants can view the ranks final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information including names of applicants on the eligible list shall not be made public unless required by law. However an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection upon request once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g. as a result of appeals) as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of 12 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification please see the citys Position Counts by Job Codes and Departments.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement including requirements time periods and other particulars except when superseded by federal state or local laws rules or regulations. Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at  terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4.  Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources 1 S Van Ness Avenue 4th Floor San Francisco CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements applications and examination policies including applicant appeal rights can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at  Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Additional Information :

SAFETY SENSITIVE POSITION REQUIREMENTS: The City and County of San Franciscos Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Department of Transportation Omnibus Transportation Employer Testing Act of 1991 employing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations requires drug and alcohol testing for employees in safety-sensitive positions. This Class 7350 Transmission and Distribution Line Worker position qualifies as safety-sensitive as defined by the FMCSA and FTA regulations. The selected applicants for safety-sensitive positions will be required to pass a Pre-Employment drug test prior to appointment and shall be subject to Random Post-Accident Reasonable Suspicion Return-To-Duty and Follow-Up testing during employment. Prior to appointment to an FMCSA safety-sensitive position each applicant who has participated in a DOT drug and alcohol testing program within the immediately preceding three (3) years will be required to sign a consent form authorizing the City to contact his/her prior employers concerning his/her drug and alcohol test history.

Medical Examination 
Prior to appointment candidates must successfully pass a medical examination to determine his/her ability to perform the essential functions of the job and/or the ability to meet the physical minimum requirements.  

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

HOW TO APPLY

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit  begin your application process.  

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place Room 110. 

Ensure your application information is accurate as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address not a shared or work email to avoid unfixable issues. 

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from  that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process please contact the exam analyst Najeebah Mpagazi-Spearman by email at

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex race age religion color national origin ancestry physical disability mental disability medical condition (associated with cancer a history of cancer or genetic characteristics) HIV/AIDS status genetic information marital status sexual orientation gender gender identity gender expression military and veteran status or other protected category under the law.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time