What does an engineering equipment operator do?
An engineering equipment operator runs heavy construction machinery. Engineering equipment operators drive and control any construction equipment. Among the equipment they operate are forklifts, cargo trucks, hydraulic truck cranes, dump trucks, backhoes, and bulldozers. They use any of the equipment to provide assistance in structure construction like roads, buildings, and bridges. The operators should be well-trained in doing these duties. They should develop analytical skills, teamwork, physical strength and stamina, attention to detail, and knowledge of the production procedures.
Engineering equipment operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real engineering equipment operator resumes:
- Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
- Dig trenches with shovels, mc clouds, Pulaski.
- Use bulldozers, cranes, grader and other heavy equipment for construction projects of army.
- Operate backhoes and trench diggers, operate loaders, sand spreaders, and snow plows when necessary to clear roads.
- Construct and maintain sidewalks, curbs, parking lots and roadways make of asphalt, concrete and granite.
- Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on asphalt plants.
- Support forestry mowing operations, and conduct line clearance trimming operations.
- Operate cranes in various indoor and outdoor locations where maneuverability is restricted and accuracy is critical.
- Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
Engineering equipment operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Engineering Equipment Operators are proficient in End Loaders, CDL, and DOT. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye-foot coordination, Mechanical skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Engineering Equipment Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- End Loaders, 26%
Operated all-terrain/rough-terrain forklifts, front-end loaders and aerial lifts to 60 feet.
- CDL, 17%
Advanced quickly operating equipment and CDL transportation.
- DOT, 10%
Performed job functions all under company safety guidelines and dot regulations.
- Loaders, 9%
Operated backhoes and trench diggers, operated loaders, sand spreaders, and snow plows when necessary to clear roads.
- Dump Truck, 9%
Operated equipment: Back Hoe, Dump Trucks, Removed Sidewalks, Beautified Swell Areas, Repaired Storm Drains.
- Construction Sites, 5%
Examined and Inspected work progress, equipment, and construction sites to verify safety and ensured that specifications were met.
Common skills that an engineering equipment operator uses to do their job include "end loaders," "cdl," and "dot." You can find details on the most important engineering equipment operator responsibilities below.
Hand-eye-foot coordination. One of the key soft skills for an engineering equipment operator to have is hand-eye-foot coordination. You can see how this relates to what engineering equipment operators do because "construction equipment operators should have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely, sometimes in tight spaces." Additionally, an engineering equipment operator resume shows how engineering equipment operators use hand-eye-foot coordination: "have got my class b cdl and spray license skills used operation of equipment skills hand eye coordination. "
Mechanical skills. Many engineering equipment operator duties rely on mechanical skills. "construction equipment operators often perform basic maintenance on the equipment they operate," so an engineering equipment operator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways engineering equipment operator responsibilities rely on mechanical skills: "operate mechanical hand tools, light to heavy duty construction and maintenance equipment. "
Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of engineering equipment operators is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday engineering equipment operator duties, as "construction equipment operators may be required to lift more than 50 pounds as part of their duties." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "operated and maintained fork lifts, dump trucks, lmtvs, tractors.maintained physical fitness and mental readiness. "
The three companies that hire the most engineering equipment operators are:
- Entegris2 engineering equipment operators jobs
- City of Augusta2 engineering equipment operators jobs
- Blue Origin2 engineering equipment operators jobs
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Compare different engineering equipment operators
Engineering equipment operator vs. Road machine runner
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, engineering equipment operator responsibilities require skills like "end loaders," "cdl," "dot," and "loaders." Meanwhile a typical road machine runner has skills in areas such as "windows," "delivery vehicle," "troubleshoot," and "internet connectivity." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, road machine runners reach similar levels of education than engineering equipment operators. Road machine runners are 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Engineering equipment operator vs. Operator/assistant foreman
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that engineering equipment operator responsibilities requires skills like "dot," "loaders," "dump truck," and "front-end loaders." But an operator/assistant foreman might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "bobcat," "pre," "ran," and "qc."
Operators/assistant foreman earn similar levels of education than engineering equipment operators in general. They're 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering equipment operator vs. Operator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, engineering equipment operators are more likely to have skills like "dot," "loaders," "front-end loaders," and "dependability." But a operator is more likely to have skills like "safety procedures," "emergency calls," "quality checks," and "dozer."
Operators make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $41,321. On the other hand, engineering equipment operators are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $45,029.operators typically earn similar educational levels compared to engineering equipment operators. Specifically, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering equipment operator vs. Motor grader operator
Types of engineering equipment operator
Updated January 8, 2025
