Heavy Equipment Operator Apprentice Jobs in Reno, NV

Introduction
Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.
POSITION INFORMATION
Placer County is current accepting applications to fill (1) permanent/full-time vacancy and five (5) extra help/temporary vacancies for Equipment Operator in Tahoe City, CA.
Temporary/Extra-help assignments are limited to 28 hours per week with a cap of 999 hours (or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants) in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits. Extra-help appointments made from this eligible list may transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.
Safety sensitive positions are subject to random ongoing DOT drug testing including marijuana.
To be considered for the first round of interviews, please submit your application by Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Applications will be screened on a bi-weekly basis following this date.
*Tahoe Branch Assignment Premium: Permanent employees who are assigned to a position located in the North Lake Tahoe Area are eligible for salary plus up to an additional $1,100 per month Tahoe Branch Assignment Premium.
BENEFITS
Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.
Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.
For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.
Workforce Housing Assistance
Placer County partners with the Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency (TTWHA) to support employee relocation and housing needs. TTWHA serves as the region's one-stop housing concierge, helping new hires navigate the local rental market, explore housing options, and connect with landlord and property management partners. To learn more about TTWHA housing services, click here.
DEFINITION
To perform semi-skilled and skilled construction and maintenance duties involving the operation of light and moderately heavy construction equipment; and to perform road maintenance and repair, traffic striping, tree trimming and removal, and street sign fabrication and installation.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the full journey level class within the Equipment Operator series. This class is distinguished from the Maintenance Worker by the assignment of the full range of duties. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.
This class is distinguished from the Senior Equipment Operator in that the latter performs complex and difficult road maintenance, repair, traffic striping, tree trimming and removal, and street sign fabrication and installation activities requiring a high degree of skill and independent judgment, and exercises technical and functional supervision over crew members.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from the Road District Crew Supervisor and may receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Equipment Operator and/or higher-level supervisory and management staff.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
General Duties for All Assignment Areas

• As a Maintenance Worker, perform a variety of unskilled and semi-skilled tasks related to equipment operation, traffic control, maintenance, street sign repair and installation, tree trimming, bridge construction and repair, and guard rail installation and repair in a training capacity.
• Direct and control traffic around work sites, including set up and removal of signs, cones, and flagging.
• Perform snow removal with heavy equipment, including graders, push plows, and blowers.
• Maintain records and other documents as required.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of effective customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Functional Assignment Areas
(While the majority of duties assigned to a position typically fall within one of the following areas, incumbents may also be assigned duties that cross multiple areas.)
When assigned to Road Maintenance (in addition to general duties), duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Operate light and moderately heavy equipment, including dump and water trucks, pavers, rollers, rotary mowers, snow removal equipment, sanders, skip loaders, and back hoes to perform excavation, digging, plowing, mowing, hauling, and loading; assist in equipment maintenance by performing minor repairs and service tasks as needed.
• Manually assist in resurfacing, oiling, and patching streets, roads, and other surfaces; clean ditches, clean and replace culverts, lay drainage pipe, build fences, and repair storm drains; load and unload materials and supplies.
• Operate construction equipment, including motor graders, front loaders, excavators, forklifts, bulldozers, graders, aerial lift trucks, traffic line removers, sweepers, and power tools, including compressors, rotor hammers, jack hammers, paint sprayers, asphalt grinders, and concrete saws.
• Inspect and clear obstructions from storm drains.
• Repair, upgrade, and install guardrails.
• Install street barricades and cones prior to street repair activities.
• Transport equipment and materials to job sites.
• Trim trees from below and above using aerial lift and hand and power saws; position lift for other trimmers; handle ropes, guys, tools, and equipment for trimmers in tall trees or lifts.
• Trim, clear, and stack roadside brush and fallen trees; mow grass along roadways; operate chipper and masticator.
• Prepare and mix herbicides for roadside spraying; spray brush and weeds; operate truck or spray rig.
• Perform concrete work and minor building maintenance, repair, and construction.

When assigned to Signs and Markings (in addition to general duties), duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Design, fabricate, print, plot, repair, install, replace, remove, and clean traffic signs.
• Select and use a variety of paints, coatings, reflective materials, and heat and pressure sensitive materials in the fabrication and repair of traffic signs.
• Create stencils used in the fabrication and repair of traffic signs and devices.
• Clear brush and obstructions from signs.
• Operate pavement striping, air compression, and pneumatic machines and tools to perform traffic sign maintenance duties; assist in equipment maintenance by performing minor repairs and service tasks as needed.
• Maintain inventory of signs and materials.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
It is the responsibility of the applicants to identify in their application how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.
Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience: Two (2) years of experience performing duties similar to a Maintenance Worker assigned to Roads with Placer County.
Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class B driver's license with air brake and tanker endorsements within six (6) months of employment. Hazardous materials endorsement may be required depending upon the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
General Knowledge and Abilities for All Assignment Areas
Knowledge of:

• General use and purpose of materials, tools, equipment, and methods used in road construction and maintenance.
• County Road Division policies and procedures.
• Office procedures, methods, computer equipment, and relevant software.
• Basic recordkeeping.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• Principles and practices of effective customer service.
• Use and purpose of materials, tools, equipment, methods, procedures, and practices used in the construction, maintenance, and repair of roads and in the trimming and removal of trees.
• Methods of traffic control.
• Vehicle codes and safety practices relevant to operating light and heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Methods and procedures for snow removal.
• General construction standards and practices as applied to road maintenance.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; observe safety rules and identify safety hazards; analyze problem equipment and systems; recall, identify, and locate equipment and tools; read, interpret, explain, and follow work orders, manuals, schematics, diagrams, drawings, and blueprints; recall street/road names and general geographic areas; analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action; explain job to others; work under time pressure with frequent interruptions; focus on a single task for long periods of time; explain job to others.
• Intermittently, sit while completing work papers and reports or while operating equipment; on a continuous basis, sit, walk, stand, balance, bend, squat, crouch, climb, kneel, twist, and reach while operating equipment, installing parts, digging, clearing, and spreading; hear, see, and smell with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; speak, use telephone, write, and use keyboard to communicate; lift very heavy weight.
• Perform heavy and continuous physical labor in a safe and effective manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Safely and effectively perform duties and operate equipment in regular traffic areas.
• Work assigned shift, including weekends, holidays, and odd or irregular hours; be subject to emergency call-out and work unusual and prolonged work schedules; work multiple or mandatory shifts during emergencies, seasonally-caused circumstances, or special projects.
• Operate a variety of motorized light and moderately heavy equipment and hand tools, including rakes, shovels, and hand tampers.
• Understand and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Interact fairly and courteously with others.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Remain current with technology associated with road construction and maintenance.
• Perform minor service, repair, and adjustment to various mechanical and electrical equipment and tools.
• Use specialized tools and equipment applicable to specific area of assignment.

Functional Assignment Areas
When assigned to Road Maintenance (in addition to the general knowledge and abilities), knowledge and abilities may include, but are not limited to:
Knowledge of:

• General construction standards and practices as applied to road maintenance.
• Use and purpose of materials, tools, equipment, methods, procedures, and practices used in the construction, maintenance, and repair of roads, streets, sidewalks, signs, and storm drains; in the trimming and removal of trees; and in carpentry, concrete, and small engine repair.
• Methods, equipment, and chemicals used in weed control.

Ability to:

• Operate a variety of equipment, hand tools, power tools, and air tools, including chain saws, power saws, concrete saws, aerial lifts, jackhammers, pickup trucks, dump trucks, chippers, masticators, rakes, shovels, and hand tampers.
• Safely handle herbicides and operate spraying equipment.

When assigned to Signs and Markings (in addition to the general knowledge and abilities), knowledge and abilities may include, but are not limited to:
Knowledge of:

• Use and purpose of materials, tools, equipment, methods, procedures, and practices used in the fabrication, installation, maintenance, and repair of traffic signs, including thermoplastic applications.

Ability to:

• Operate a variety of equipment and tools, including large pavement striping machine, forklift, hydraulic lift, pickup truck, paint guns, pumps, compressors, and various hand tools.
• Use drafting tools and computer programs.

SELECTION PROCEDURE
Training & Experience Rating (100%)
Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant's education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluati