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Job Description
Description
The Department
Palo Alto is the only city in California that offers a full array of utility services to its citizens and businesses. Because of this, the City has a unique opportunity to partner with the Palo Alto community to enjoy the benefits and achievements of reliable, home-grown, and environmentally-focused utilities. Palo Alto has a tradition of over 100 years of successful public utility operations. It is a tradition that continues to provide the Palo Alto community with safe and reliable utilities service, local decision-making over policies, utility rate-making, environmental programs, and customized services.
Career Opportunity
The Electric Heavy Equipment Operator is a journey-level position that is assigned to work with the Electric line crew with Lineperson/Cable Splicers, Electrical Assistants, Substation Electricians, and other staff while performing various maintenance tasks, including the installation and repair of the electric systems. The responsibility of this position is to operate heavy equipment and other equipment used in Electric Operations, such as: electrical line truck, cable pulling equipment, bucket trucks, and wheeled cranes. A requirement of this position includes the ability to obtain a crane certification within 6 months of appointment and to maintain this certification.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is knowledgeable in safe work practices and skilled at identifying potential hazards and obstructions when operating equipment and working around electrical systems. To be successful in this role, the candidate must have experience operating heavy equipment used in electric utility operations and work effectively as part of a team with line crews and other field staff. They should demonstrate reliability and dependability with a strong work ethic, along with flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic field environment, and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills that support a positive and collaborative workplace.
Embark on this rewarding career. Apply today!
Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package that includes affordable healthcare plans, generous retirement packages, paid parental leave, convenient commuter programs and more!
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here .
Schedule: 9/80 work schedule (with every other Friday off).
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union position (SEIU).
This is a continuous recruitment and may remain open until filled.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Works with Lineperson/Cable Splicer Lead, Lineperson/Cable Splicer or Electrician operating equipment used during installation, maintenance, and repair of the electric system
- Operates electrical line truck, digging pole holes, setting poles, transformers, switches, and any other related hardware in and around energized lines
- Operates cranes, ditch witch as needed
- Assists members of the Electric Division as required
- Perform related duties and responsibilities asrequired
- Complies with safety standards and practices
- Knowledge of safety practices and procedures in working with Heavy Equipment.
To see full job description, click here .
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training, and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:- Completion of High School, GED, or equivalent; and,
- One year of experience operating type(s) of heavy equipment used in line construction
Special Requirements:- Possession of a valid California Class A commercial driver's permit with appropriate endorsements required within sixty days of appointment, with the ability to obtain a license within six months.
- Ability to pass a drug test as mandated by the Department of Transportation.
- Possession of, or the ability to, obtain required crane certification within six months of appointment to be maintained throughout incumbency
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements:
Construction site environment; exposure to dust and loud machine noise; danger of heavy equipment; some climbing, stooping, and lifting; work in inclement weather conditions
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
- The screening process for this position includes a panel interview and skills assessment preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
- An eligible list may be established from this recruitment and used to fill future vacancies for up to six (6) months, or until the list has been exhausted.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 4/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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