Equipment Operator I

Equipment Operator I

Salary

$55,577.60 - $68,099.20 Annually

Location

4501 FM 620 North (West Service Center), Austin, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

26-10574

Department

TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Opening Date

04/16/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

Performs construction and maintenance work in one or more specialized programs, incorporating standard construction and maintenance techniques to produce a finished product to required standards. Work includes traffic control set up in construction zones and drainage right of way generated by customer service requests.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the first in a series of four (4) equipment operator-related job classifications within the Skilled Trades job family. This classification is distinguished by the operation of light and heavy motorized equipment and by experience in Road Maintenance application including road, right of way repairs, traffic control and response to citizen complaints. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Drives and operates light and heavy equipment, including but not limited to track and pneumatic tire excavation equipment, loaders, backhoes and dozers, motor graders, haul trucks, dump trucks, tank trucks, asphalt paving and striping machines, steel drum and pneumatic tire compaction machines and other equipment. Transfers equipment and materials to and from job sites or other destinations as required.
• Performs general construction and maintenance duties, such as excavation for drainage ways, removing and replacing concrete sidewalks, curbs and pads in compliance with ADA standards, and cutting brush. Utilizes general hand and power tools as required.
• Installs warning signs and barricades to assist the public by routing and controlling traffic around and within construction and maintenance work site.
• Operates equipment during emergency situations, such as removing debris from roadways, response to floods, severe weather, accidents, and ice on roadways.
• Performs routine preventative repairs and maintenance, refueling on equipment, checking tires, fluid levels, grease areas, and hydraulic systems. Cleans and cares for tools and equipment.
• Maintains records of mileage, servicing, minor maintenance, equipment hours, unit numbers and destinations of equipment assigned. Estimates and recommends to supervisor; materials needed on assigned project; records time and materials used. Identifies and recommends equipment needs for each assigned projects, request needed tools, equipment, supplies and materials. Prepares reports and documents work production as required.
• Follows blueprints to ensure compliance with established standards on roads, culverts and drainage for maintenance and construction. Incorporates standard construction and maintenance techniques, to produce a finished product to required specifications.
• Performs various additional general labor tasks associated with assigned construction and maintenance projects, such as patching roads, cutting brush, and building fences, as required.
• Utilizes advanced knowledge and skill to calibrate and ensure proper operation of equipment.
• Facilitates and participates in on-the-job and skill-based training in order to meet team and department goals and objectives.
• Performs indigent burials and cemetery grounds maintenance, as required.
• Attends meetings, conferences, or other educational classes and participates in training offered by the County and applies information to work assignment.
• Communicates with employees at all levels and the public to receive and relay factual information and to facilitate public relations.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

High School diploma or G.E.D. AND two (2) years of related increasingly responsible light and heavy equipment operating experience.

OR

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Commercial Driver's License (Class A or B CDL) with a Tank Vehicle (N) Endorsement

Preferred:

Class A Texas Commercial Driver's License.

Work Zone Flagger Training certificate and/or Work Zone Traffic Control Instruction certificate or related type certificate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Operation and maintenance characteristics of light and heavy equipment used for construction and maintenance activities and routine preventative maintenance on motorized equipment.
• Operation and maintenance characteristics of basic hand and power tools.
• Applicable provisions of operating hazards and safety rules and regulations, and precautions.
• Accepted maintenance, construction standards and processes for Roadway & Right of Way maintenance activities.
• Proper calibration and utilization of equipment.
• Computer knowledge to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.
• Travis County and Department's Employee Policy and Procedures rules and regulations.
• Proper implementation and maintenance of Traffic Control plans as outlined in the Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Industry standards associated with recording activity and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Operating light and heavy construction and maintenance equipment.
• Diagnosing equipment problems and making field repairs and adjustments.
• Reading and interpreting schematics and blueprints.
• Properly calibrating and utilizing equipment.
• Applying proper and applicable safety practices, procedures, and regulations.
• Working with others, including working as a team member.
• Calculating and estimating time schedules, labor required, and quantities of materials needed on roadway and right of way projects.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Safely operate motor vehicles, including light and heavy construction and maintenance equipment.
• Understand and precisely follow both verbal and written instructions and communicate in a concise and effective manner.
• Reason and make sound judgments and decisions.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, other County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 60 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate light and heavy motorized equipment and general hand power tools. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, repetitive motion, pulling, driving, twisting, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to contact with mechanical hazards, chemical hazards, fume/odor hazards, toxic waste hazards, electrical hazards, explosive hazards, biological hazards, noise, vibration, fumes, foul odor, dirt, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation, and moving large set of construction parts, tools, or machinery. Requires use of personal protective devices such as masks, goggles, and gloves.

Position requires fieldwork with exposure to traffic hazard, public work development sites and other construction site hazards including climbing / walking over rough and uneven terrain. Works outdoors in all types of weather including excessive heat and cold temperatures.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 7:00 AM-3:00 PM, Monday-Friday.

Works some holidays, Works some nights, Works some weekends.

Location: West Side Service Center-4501 RM 620 North Austin, Texas 78701

East Service Center -6011 Blue Bluff Road Austin, Texas 78724

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

Commercial Drivers License, Drug Test

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Olivia.Aleman@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employees fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers Compensation

The county provides all employees workers compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

01

Do you currently have a CDL

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a Tanker Endorsement

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have at least a year of leadership experience or certified training

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of equipment operation experience do you have.

• None
• 0 - 1 years
• 2 - 3 years
• 5 years or more

05

How many years of construction/road maintenance experience do you have.

• None
• 0 - 1 years
• 2 - 3 years
• 5 years or more

06

List the equipment youve operated and the tasks performed

Required Question

Employer Travis County

Address 700 Lavaca Street

Austin, Texas, 78701

Website https://www.traviscountytx.gov/human-resources/jobs