Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• At least 5 years of heavy equipment operating experience in earthwork, grading, and underground utilities.
• Proficiency operating multiple machines, including excavators, dozers, loaders, and graders.
• Hands-on experience with GPS machine control and reading grade stakes and elevations.
• Experience with excavation, site preparation, trenching, wet and dry utility installation, and rough and finish grading.
• Working knowledge of trench safety, shoring, and sloping requirements.
• Ability to perform equipment inspections and routine maintenance.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment for extended periods in heat, cold, dust, and noise; climb on and off equipment; bend, stoop, kneel, and walk on uneven terrain; and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Comfort using a tablet or phone for daily logs and timesheets.
• Ability to travel to job sites as needed.

Nice To Haves

• At least 1 year as a lead operator, foreman, or crew lead.
• Strong finish-grading skills.
• Class A CDL for hauling equipment.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification.
• Competent Person certification in excavation or trenching.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment daily, including excavators, dozers, loaders, motor graders, scrapers, backhoes, skid steers, and compactors.
• Lead a crew of 2–4 operators and laborers on excavation, grading, and underground utility work while working alongside them.
• Perform mass excavation, trenching, backfilling, rough and finish grading, and compaction to plan and specification.
• Operate GPS machine-control grading systems and set up and verify grades, elevations, and cut/fill using site plans and grade stakes.
• Interpret blueprints, site plans, and elevation drawings and translate them into daily work for the crew.
• Plan and sequence daily equipment work, coordinate truck and material deliveries, and keep production on schedule.
• Train and mentor operators on safe operation, machine techniques, grade work, and production targets.
• Perform pre-shift inspections and daily maintenance, including greasing, fluid checks, and minor repairs; report and schedule larger repairs.
• Enforce site safety protocols, including trench safety, utility locates, and equipment swing and blind-spot awareness, in compliance with OSHA and company regulations.
• Monitor soil conditions and compaction results and coordinate with testing inspectors.
• Load, haul, and unload equipment between job sites as needed.
• Keep daily logs of production, equipment hours, and crew time; submit timesheets to the General Foreman or Superintendent.
• Communicate with the General Foreman, Superintendent, project managers, engineers, and other trades.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Fringe benefits
• Continuing education bonus program
• Opportunities for career growth
• Prevailing wage on applicable public works jobs; California prevailing wage (DIR) applies to public works and Davis-Bacon applies to federal work.