Are you a skilled heavy equipment or farm equipment operator looking for a change? If so, we have an opportunity at Truax Field as a Heavy Equipment Operator.

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) provides essential, effective, and responsive military and emergency management capability for the citizens of our state and nation. During emergencies, no single organization can handle the response. The DMA consists of several organizations working together to plan, prepare, coordinate, and respond effectively when our communities and neighbors need us the most.

We offer an opportunity to engage with a team of dedicated professionals, with a truly worthwhile mission.

Our convenient location is near Madison College and adjacent to the Dane County Regional Airport with access to major highways. The DMA is a great place to work! We offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year.
• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits
• A casual atmosphere and flexible work schedules, depending on the position's requirements.
• An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
• Well Wisconsin A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall wellbeing.
• Working for Wisconsin State Government may make you eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Heavy Equipment Operators at Truax Field work under general supervision of the Building and Grounds Superintendent using specialized heavy equipment to maintain and repair concrete and asphalt on all aircraft pavements, roads, parking lots and sidewalks. Equipment includes skid steers (with multiple attachments), front end loaders, backhoes, rollers, Oshkosh runway brooms, and dump trucks to perform duties including but not limited to trenching, grading, runway cleaning, pavement repair, snow removal, etc. In addition, these positions may complete construction projects and perform base improvements using equipment for trenching/excavating/backfilling for underground utilities such as water lines, sewer lines, electrical, fiber optic cable, and phone/communication lines. This position will work as a member of a crew to accomplish assigned maintenance and construction projects and may assist structural crews as needed to complete large projects.

Starting pay is $25.22 per hour. This position is in the 06/14 pay schedule/range. For current permanent state employees, pay will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.  A 12-month probation will be required.

To learn more about the complete compensation package, please visit the Total Rewards Calculator.

In order to gain access to the military facilities and to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled, DMA will conduct a comprehensive background check. 

Must possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a government driver’s license as a condition of continued employment. 

Must be able to obtain a satisfactory/favorable Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance.

Ability to lift 50 pounds.

The Department of Military Affairs does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9.

This is a State of Wisconsin Civil Service position. The DMA does not require current or previous military experience. 

All new permanent, project, and limited term employees will be required to report to Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) in Madison on the Monday of their first week of employment for the New Employee Orientation (NEO) program. Additional information will be sent to the new employees and their supervisors on the Tuesday prior to NEO.

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will have the following:

• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Experience on a continuous/reoccurring basis operating a variety of equipment such as loaders, skid loaders, excavators, dump trucks, etc.
• Basic mechanical knowledge of heavy equipment; including pre-trip inspections, preventative maintenance and troubleshooting, etc.

You will be required to attach a resume or complete a work experience submission, as well as answer several yes/no questions during the application process to determine your eligibility for the position.

You will be required to attach a resume or complete a work experience submission, as well as answer several  yes/no questions during the application process to determine your eligibility for the position.

Click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. If you have not signed into your account, you will need to sign in before applying. If you do not have an account, click “Register Now” to register for an account and apply for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application. 

Helpful Information: 

You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Please note that once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.

You will be required to attach a resume or complete a work experience submission, as well as answer several yes/no questions. It is recommended that you make sure to address the bulleted points in the “Qualifications” section above in your resume or work experience.

Please monitor your email for communications related to this position. 

Please consider saving a copy of the job announcement for future reference. 

For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.  Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer, voluntary demotion, or reinstatement) should complete the online application process. 

Applications must be submitted through Wisc.Jobs. Failure to submit all required materials will result in an incomplete application and ineligibility for this position.  Application materials will not be accepted if received in an incompatible format, an email, as a hard copy or a fax.

If viewing through an external site, please click here to apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.

The Department of Military Affairs is an equal opportunity employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.  For complete information on veterans’ hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment Assistance page on the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ website.

Veterans with a 30%-or-greater service-connected disability rating are eligible for consideration for non-competitive appointment to permanent positions in classified civil service under s. 230.275, WI Stats. Please visit the Veterans Employment page for more information about the program and how to apply. Current state employees in permanent positions are not eligible for non-competitive appointment.

For general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page. The Wisc.Jobs helpdesk is available Monday-Friday, 7:45am - 4:30pm at 608-267-1012 or wiscjobs@wisconsin.gov.  Some applicants report better performance when using the Chrome browser.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Rebecca Rupnow at Rebecca.Rupnow@widma.gov or 608-242-3150. 

The first review will be completed on applications received by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 25, 2025. Applications will be accepted after that date until the needs of the department have been met.