Blue Mule Engineering is seeking an experienced Heavy Equipment Operator for grading, excavation, underground utility, drainage, roadway, fire-water, and rural site-development projects throughout San Mateo County and the surrounding Bay Area.
Our work is often performed on steep, uneven, and restricted-access sites. We are looking for a dependable operator who can work safely, protect the equipment, maintain grade, and assist the crew outside the machine when necessary.
Primary Responsibilities
- Safely operate excavators, compact excavators, dozers, skid steers, track loaders, wheel loaders, backhoes, rollers, trench compactors, and other construction equipment.
- Perform trench excavation, mass excavation, site clearing, rough grading, finish grading, road building, drainage work, backfilling, and compaction.
- Excavate around existing utilities and structures with care.
- Assist with installing water mains, fire-water systems, sewer, storm drain, septic systems, electrical conduit, HDPE, PVC, ductile-iron pipe, hydrants, valves, vaults, pull boxes, and related improvements.
- Read construction plans, grade stakes, cut sheets, elevations, and utility layouts.
- Use lasers and other grade-control equipment to maintain proper line, grade, slope, and trench depth.
- Construct safe excavations using proper sloping, benching, shoring, and trench-protection procedures.
- Load trucks, handle pipe and materials, place bedding, spread aggregate, and compact backfill in lifts.
- Perform daily equipment inspections, greasing, fueling, cleaning, and basic preventive maintenance.
- Identify mechanical problems early and immediately report damage, leaks, unsafe conditions, or needed repairs.
- Safely use attachments such as hydraulic breakers, compactors, grapples, mowers, and mastication equipment when qualified.
- Assist laborers, pipe crews, grade checkers, and truck drivers to keep the project moving efficiently.
- Maintain an organized, professional, and clean jobsite.
- Follow OSHA requirements, company safety procedures, traffic-control plans, and supervisor instructions.
- Complete daily equipment reports, time records, and basic project documentation as required.
Required Qualifications
- At least 3–5 years of verifiable heavy-equipment operating experience.
- Strong excavation, trenching, grading, and underground-utility experience.
- Ability to safely operate around workers, existing utilities, buildings, traffic, and confined work areas.
- Ability to read plans, understand elevations, and work from grade stakes and laser readings.
- Knowledge of soil conditions, trench safety, compaction, and proper backfilling procedures.
- Valid driver’s license with a clean and insurable driving record.
- Reliable transportation and consistent attendance.
- Ability to lift at least 50 pounds and work outdoors in heat, cold, mud, dust, and rain.
- Willingness to perform physical labor and support the crew when not operating equipment.
- Strong communication skills, good judgment, and a safety-first attitude.
- Must be dependable, drug-free at work, and able to pass any required pre-employment screening.
Preferred Qualifications
- Class A or Class B CDL.
- OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification.
- Competent Person trench and excavation training.
- Experience with HDPE pipe, fusion operations, water systems, fire hydrants, septic systems, and electrical conduit.
- Experience operating on steep terrain and rural access roads.
- Experience with GPS or machine grade-control systems.
- Mechanical ability and experience performing routine equipment maintenance.
- Experience operating forestry, mowing, or mastication attachments.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate takes pride in clean, accurate work and treats company equipment as if it were their own. This person understands that a professional operator does more than move dirt: they plan each movement, communicate with the ground crew, protect existing improvements, watch production costs, and leave a safe and finished jobsite.
Employment Details
- Position: Full-time Heavy Equipment Operator
- Location: La Honda and projects throughout San Mateo County and the surrounding Bay Area
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, with occasional overtime or weekend work depending on project needs
- Compensation: Competitive and based on experience, qualifications, and ability
- Benefits: [health and dental]
- Start date: [July]
To Apply
Submit your name, phone number, work history, equipment experience, certifications, driver’s-license class, and professional references. Please include a list of the equipment you are confident operating and describe your experience with grading, excavation, and underground utilities.
Pay: $35.00 - $40.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
