2

Entry Level Excavator Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Construction experience, particularly involving mission-critical facilities, underground infrastructure, tunneling, or large-scale excavation projects. * Experience with design reviews, engineering ...

GPS Dozer Operator

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$24 - $38/hr

Less than high school education required; entry level experience. Ability to apply commonsense ... Vision insurance If you'd like to apply to one of our excavator operator jobs, fill out the ...

Position Summary Branch is searching for an entry-level and safety-oriented Mechanic to join our ... excavators, loaders, backhoes, graders, and haul trucks. This role works under close supervision of ...

Position Summary Branch is searching for an entry-level and safety-oriented Mechanic to join our ... excavators, loaders, backhoes, graders, and haul trucks. This role works under close supervision of ...

CDM Smith is seeking an entry-level graduate to join our Geotechnical Engineering team in Fairfax ... excavation support systems and retaining structures, settlement, and ground improvement.

Professional development and tuition reimbursement Schnabel Engineering is seeking an entry level ... Our services include design of support of excavation (SOE) systems, underpinning of structures, geo ...

CDM Smith is seeking an entry-level graduate to join our Geotechnical Engineering team in Fairfax ... excavation support systems and retaining structures, settlement, and ground improvement.

Entry Level Excavator information

See Washington salary details

$15

$29

$47

How much do entry level excavator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level excavator in Washington is $29.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.52 and $32.40 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level excavator?

An Entry Level Excavator job involves operating heavy machinery to dig, move, and grade earth on construction sites under supervision. Responsibilities may include assisting with site preparation, following safety protocols, and maintaining equipment. This role typically requires basic equipment training, a willingness to learn, and physical stamina. Many employers provide on-the-job training for beginners.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an entry level excavator?

To thrive as an Entry Level Excavator, you need basic knowledge of heavy equipment operation, safety procedures, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Experience with operating excavators and obtaining certifications such as OSHA safety training or equipment operator cards is often required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn help you stand out in this position. These skills ensure safe, efficient excavation work while reducing the risk of accidents and supporting team success on construction sites.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry level excavators on the job?

Entry level excavators often encounter challenges such as adapting to different types of heavy equipment, learning site-specific safety protocols, and managing varying soil or weather conditions. You'll need to quickly become comfortable following precise instructions from supervisors and communicating effectively with coworkers to ensure tasks are completed safely. There can also be physical demands, including long hours outdoors and lifting or moving materials. However, these challenges present excellent learning opportunities and help you build valuable skills for career growth in the construction industry.

How to get started as an entry level excavator?

To start as an entry-level excavator operator, obtain a high school diploma or equivalent, complete on-the-job training or a vocational program, and earn a commercial driver's license if required. Gaining familiarity with excavation equipment, safety protocols, and basic construction skills is essential, and some employers may require certification from organizations like OSHA or NCCER.

What are the most commonly searched types of Excavator jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Excavator jobs in Washington are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Excavator jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Excavator jobs in Washington are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Excavator job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,622 per year, or $29.6 per hour.

Junior Engineer Drafter

Leidos

Reston, VA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 495 rated business services


Job description

Leidos has an opening for an Engineer Drafter in Reston, Virginia. This position focuses on developing and modifying detailed engineering drawings, models, and technical documentation that support the analysis and characterization of complex facilities and infrastructure systems.

The successful candidate will create detailed part, assembly, and installation drawings using established engineering standards, reference materials, and technical data. Work is performed using computer-aided design and modeling tools such as CAD, CAM, CATIA, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms. Responsibilities include producing and revising engineering drawings, supporting technical analyses, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop accurate representations of facility systems and structures.

The selected candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary team of government and contractor personnel in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment within a government facility.

Roles and Responsibilities
  • As part of a facility characterization team, integrate all-source intelligence, geotechnical data, topographical information, underground infrastructure expertise, and engineering best practices to identify and model facility functions, missions, and physical configurations.

  • Develop detailed 3D BIM models and 2D CAD drawings across multiple engineering disciplines.

  • Perform clash detection and coordination among engineering disciplines, identifying and resolving spatial conflicts before design completion.

  • Create, maintain, and enhance project-specific and enterprise BIM libraries, including custom families, templates, metadata, and annotations.

  • Audit models to ensure data integrity, spatial accuracy, and compliance with organizational BIM standards, Level of Development (LOD) requirements, and modeling and simulation guidelines.

  • Generate customer-required deliverables, including technical reports, measurements, material schedules, cross-sections, and other documentation derived directly from engineering models.

  • Participate in model coordination reviews and technical meetings with clients and cross-functional project teams.

  • Support the development of technical solutions that require collaboration with subject matter experts, detailed analysis, and an understanding of impacts to the overall mission and end product.

Required Education, Skills, and Experience:
  • Candidate must possess an active TS/SCI clearance or a Top Secret clearance with a current SSBI and be eligible to obtain a TS/SCI with polygraph.

  • U.S. citizenship is required.

  • Working knowledge of engineering standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques within a relevant technical discipline.

  • Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of relevant experience, or a master's degree with less than 2 years of relevant experience. Additional relevant professional experience gained may be considered in lieu of a degree.

  • Degree or experience in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Protective Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or another discipline relevant to Building Information Modeling.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively brief and interact with senior officials.

  • This role requires a creative yet disciplined problem-solver who can work effectively in situations where complete information may not be available. Candidates should possess exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to producing high-quality work products.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Working knowledge of protective engineering principles and physical security or force protection measures.

  • Experience with Autodesk Revit, Autodesk AutoCAD, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and workflows.

  • Experience with infrastructure modeling and simulation tools such as Ventsim, ETAP, or similar platforms.

  • Military, intelligence community, or defense-related experience.

  • Construction experience, particularly involving mission-critical facilities, underground infrastructure, tunneling, or large-scale excavation projects.

  • Experience with design reviews, engineering modifications, specifications development, dimensioning, and document management processes.

  • Experience developing and implementing BIM standards, workflows, and best practices.

  • Familiarity with multidisciplinary engineering coordination and model-based project delivery.

#ASBA
#Snakehead

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:June 2, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:Pay Range $59,150.00 - $106,925.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.


What Leidos employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Leidos logo

About Leidos

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

Social media