Equipment Operator III

Equipment Operator III

Salary

$70,116.80 - $83,907.20 Annually

Location

City of San Diego, CA

Job Type

Varies by Position

Job Number

JR-T11527-202607

Business Area

N/A - Multiple Departments

Opening Date

07/03/2026

Closing Date

7/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

JOB INFORMATION

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT:

• Equipment Operator I

Equipment Operator III positions operate "large class" construction equipment such as combination backhoes, loaders, bulldozers, asphalt distributors, hydraulic excavators, gradalls, asphalt milling machines, Lo-Boy tractor/trailer combination, and motor graders to perform skilled construction, maintenance, and repair work in a variety of City departments; complete work requests and report forms; may lead the work of others; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:

• 3.5% effective 7/1/27

• 2% effective 7/1/28

• 2% effective 1/1/29

• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

• Equipment Operator III employees may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays, for which they may receive 5% additional pay.

• Some Equipment Operator III employees are required to pass a medical physical, respiratory fit test, and obtain Confined Space Certification within six months from the date of hire. Employees will be required to obtain and maintain Confined Space Certification to retain employment.

• Equipment Operator III 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 Administrations Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and with former employers regarding drug and alcohol testing.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

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

EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

• Two years of full-time experience operating "medium class" industrial motive equipment similar to equipment operated by Equipment Operator II positions in the City of San Diego such as D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers; motor graders on skilled blade work; articulating loaders (e.g., Case 621, 721, or larger); backhoes/extendahoe (e.g., Case 580 or larger); or other equipment of comparable difficulty.
• Six months of full-time experience operating a combination of the following types of "large class" industrial motive equipment: Gradalls, D-8 or D-9 class bulldozers, motor scrapers, linkbelt excavators, milling machines, or other equipment of comparable difficulty.

NOTE:

• 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 A Drivers License AND a valid California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) medical certificate dated within the last two years are required at the time of hire.

NOTES:

• Some positions may require a valid Tank Endorsement at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Tank Endorsement within six months from date of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid Hazmat Endorsement within six months from date of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Leadership ability/experience.

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 Employment 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.

SCREENING PROCESS

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.

SUPPLEMENTAL 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. 11 - July 3, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)

City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

Flexible Benefits Plan Options for Employees Represented by Local 127 or review the Benefits Summary for Local 127 Employees.

01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.

04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

How many years of full-time experience do you have operating "medium class" industrial motive equipment similar to equipment operated by Equipment Operator II positions in the City of San Diego such as D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers; motor graders on skilled blade work; articulating loaders (e.g., Case 621, 721, or larger); backhoes/extendahoe (e.g., Case 580 or larger); or other equipment of comparable difficulty?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06

Which of the following types of "medium class" industrial motive equipment do you have full-time experience operating?

• D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers
• Motor graders on skilled blade work
• Articulating loaders (Case 621, 721, or larger)
• Backhoes/extendahoe (Case 580 or larger)
• Other equipment of comparable difficulty
• None of the above

07

Describe your full-time experience operating the following types of "medium class" industrial motive equipment: a. D-4 or D-6 class bulldozers; b. motor graders on skilled blade work; c. articulating loaders (Case 621, 721, or larger); d. backhoes/extendahoe (Case 580 or larger); e. other equipment of comparable difficulty. For each type of equipment, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each type of equipment and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific type of equipment, write "None."

08

How many months of full-time experience do you have operating "large class" industrial motive equipment such as gradalls, D-8 or D-9 class bulldozers, motor scrapers, linkbelt excavators, milling machines, or other equipment of comparable difficulty?

• None
• Less than 6 months
• 6 months to less than 12 months
• 12 months to less than 18 months
• 18 months to less than 24 months
• 24 months to less than 30 months
• 30 months or more

09

Which of the following types of "large class" industrial motive equipment do you have full-time experience operating?

• Gradalls
• D-8 or D-9 class bulldozers
• Motor scrapers
• Linkbelt excavators
• Milling machines
• Other equipment of comparable difficulty
• None of the above

10

Describe your full-time experience operating the following types of "large class" industrial motive equipment: a. Gradalls; b. D-8 or D-9 class bulldozers; c. motor scrapers; d. linkbelt excavators; e. milling machines; f. other equipment of comparable difficulty. For each type of equipment, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each type of equipment, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific type of equipment, write "None."

11

Which of the following valid California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license, endorsement, and/or medical certificate do you possess?

• Class A Driver License
• Medical certificate dated within the last two years
• Tank Endorsement
• Hazmat Endorsement
• None of the above

Required Question

Employer City of San Diego

Address 1200 3rd Ave., Suite 300, MS 51P

San Diego, California, 92101

Phone (619) 236-6400

(619) 236-6358

Website http://www.sandiego.gov/empopp/