Heavy Equipment Operator – Natural Gas Utility Construction
Middleton Mechanical LLC – Mansfield, Ohio
Pay: $30.00–$38.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications
Full-Time | 3- or 4-Day Work Schedules Available | Statewide Ohio Travel
Position Overview
Middleton Mechanical LLC is seeking an experienced Heavy Equipment Operator to join our natural gas utility construction crews working throughout the State of Ohio.
This is not an entry-level operator position.
We are looking for experienced operators who are highly proficient with backhoes, excavators, mini-excavators, skid steers, and related construction equipment and who understand the precision required when excavating around live underground utilities in congested environments.
Being able to move dirt does not make someone a utility operator.
Our operators must be able to safely expose existing facilities, excavate around live utilities, work effectively with spotters, minimize property disturbance, protect our equipment, and consistently produce quality work.
A CDL is preferred but NOT required.
For qualified Equipment Operators, Middleton Mechanical can also accommodate 3- or 4-day work schedules.
READ THIS BEFORE YOU APPLY
Please understand what you are applying for before submitting an application.
We are looking for a professional Equipment Operator — not simply someone who has spent time sitting in a machine.
You will be trusted with expensive equipment while working within inches of existing underground utilities and natural gas facilities.
Safety, precision, judgment, and damage prevention are requirements of this position.
You will also be expected to show up when scheduled, travel throughout Ohio, take care of the equipment assigned to you, perform physical work when necessary, follow instructions, and contribute to the crew.
If you regularly call off, cannot pass a drug test, don't want to travel, abuse equipment, expect to sit in the cab while everyone else works, or believe manual labor is beneath an Equipment Operator, please do not apply.
We respect our employees' time, and we ask that applicants respect ours.
If you are an experienced operator who takes pride in your work, your equipment, and your ability to safely work around underground utilities, we want to talk to you.
What You Will Be Doing
As an Equipment Operator, your responsibilities will include:
- Safely operate backhoes, excavators, mini-excavators, skid steers, loaders, and related construction equipment
- Excavate for natural gas mains and services
- Safely excavate around existing live underground utilities
- Perform precision excavation in congested utility environments
- Dig trenches and excavations to appropriate dimensions, depths, and grades
- Perform backfilling, grading, compaction, and material handling
- Assist with natural gas main and service installation
- Work effectively with designated spotters and ground personnel
- Understand and respect utility markings, tolerance zones, and established excavation procedures
- Minimize unnecessary disturbance to lawns, pavement, sidewalks, landscaping, and customer property
- Maintain safe excavation conditions and comply with applicable trenching and excavation requirements
- Load and unload materials and equipment as required
- Coordinate with the foreman to ensure equipment, materials, fuel, tools, and supplies are available
- Perform physical construction work when equipment operation is not required
- Maintain a clean and organized work area
- Participate in daily pre-job briefings and safety meetings
- Follow all company, customer, OSHA, DOT, and applicable utility safety requirements
DAMAGE PREVENTION IS A CORE RESPONSIBILITY
Our Equipment Operators work around existing natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telecommunications, and other underground facilities.
We expect our operators to take damage prevention personally.
Production never justifies damaging an existing facility.
An experienced utility operator knows when to dig, when to slow down, when to stop, when additional exposure is required, and when something in the field does not match the information available.
We are looking for operators who take pride in completing difficult excavations safely, professionally, and without damage.
Take Ownership of Your Equipment
When Middleton Mechanical assigns you a piece of equipment, we expect you to take care of it.
Operators are responsible for:
- Completing required daily equipment inspections
- Inspecting equipment before operation
- Monitoring fluid levels and equipment condition
- Properly fueling and greasing equipment
- Keeping tracks, undercarriages, cabs, buckets, lift arms, and other components reasonably clean
- Identifying leaks, wear, damage, and mechanical problems
- Reporting repair needs before minor problems become major failures
- Preventing unnecessary operator-caused damage
- Keeping the cab clean and organized
- Ensuring equipment is ready for the next day's work
We provide good equipment. We expect our operators to take care of it.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must have:
- Significant, verifiable heavy-equipment operating experience
- Approximately 5+ years of equipment operating experience preferred
- Demonstrated proficiency operating backhoes and excavators
- Previous underground utility construction experience strongly preferred
- Experience excavating around existing underground utilities strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of excavation and jobsite safety
- Valid driver's license
- Acceptable driving record
- Mechanical aptitude and basic understanding of equipment maintenance
- Ability to communicate effectively with spotters and ground personnel
- Ability to follow directions from foremen and supervisors
- Ability to work safely and productively as part of a crew
- Ability to perform physical construction work when necessary
- Ability to lift and carry approximately 50 pounds
- Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, snow, and mud
- Ability to work extended shifts and overtime when required
- Ability and willingness to travel throughout Ohio
- Dependable attendance
- Ability to pass required background and driving-record checks
- Ability to meet all company drug and alcohol requirements
CDL
A CDL is preferred but is NOT required for this position.
Applicants with a Class A or Class B CDL and a good driving record should identify this when applying.
Natural gas distribution experience and applicable Operator Qualifications are also highly desirable.
THIS IS A WORKING OPERATOR POSITION
Equipment Operators at Middleton Mechanical are part of the crew.
There will be times when your machine is not needed.
When that happens, you are still needed.
Our operators may assist with pipe handling, materials, hand digging, spotting, jobsite setup, cleanup, restoration, tools, and other activities necessary to complete the work.
"I'm an operator — that's not my job" is not the attitude we are looking for.
Everyone contributes.
Flexible 3- or 4-Day Work Schedules
Middleton Mechanical can accommodate qualified Equipment Operators who prefer a 3-day or 4-day work schedule.
These are full working days and may involve extended shifts, depending on project requirements, travel, and workload.
We recognize that experienced operators may value having additional days off while still having the opportunity to work substantial hours.
Specific schedules will be discussed during the interview process and coordinated based on the needs of our projects and the employee's availability.
If you are an experienced operator looking for a schedule that allows you to work hard while you're here and have more days off, talk to us.
Statewide Ohio Travel
Middleton Mechanical performs natural gas utility construction throughout the State of Ohio.
Travel and overnight stays are a requirement of this position.
For qualifying out-of-town work, employees receive:
- Daily per diem
- Company-paid motel accommodations
If you are only interested in working close to home every day or are unwilling to stay overnight when the project requires it, please do not apply.
ZERO-TOLERANCE DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
Middleton Mechanical LLC maintains a strict drug-free workplace.
This is safety-sensitive work involving natural gas facilities, underground utilities, vehicles, excavation, and heavy equipment.
All applicants must successfully pass required pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment.
Employees are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing throughout employment, along with additional testing required by company policy, customer requirements, or applicable regulations.
If you cannot pass a drug test or are unwilling to participate in our drug and alcohol testing program, do not apply for this position.
There are no exceptions when it comes to the safety of our employees, our customers, and the public.
Compensation
$30.00–$38.00 per hour
Starting compensation will be based on:
- Underground utility operating experience
- Natural gas distribution experience
- Ability to safely excavate around live utilities
- Equipment proficiency
- CDL and other qualifications
- Operator Qualifications
- Driving record
- Work history
Experienced natural gas utility operators who can demonstrate their abilities will be compensated accordingly.
Benefits
Middleton Mechanical LLC offers eligible full-time employees a competitive benefits package including:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid holidays
- Paid vacation
- Overtime opportunities
- 3- or 4-day schedule options for qualified Equipment Operators
- Daily per diem for qualifying travel
- Company-paid motel accommodations for qualifying out-of-town work
- Training and professional development
- Opportunities for advancement
- Stable work in the natural gas utility industry
About Middleton Mechanical LLC
Middleton Mechanical LLC is an established Ohio underground utility contractor specializing in natural gas distribution construction.
Our crews perform natural gas main and service installation and replacement, excavation, horizontal directional drilling, hydrovac excavation, utility work, restoration, and related pipeline construction throughout Ohio.
We believe in safety, accountability, quality workmanship, damage prevention, and taking care of the equipment entrusted to us.
We provide our operators with good equipment, steady work, competitive compensation, and opportunities to advance.
In return, we expect our operators to be dependable, skilled, safety-conscious, productive, and professional.
Apply Today
If you are an experienced Equipment Operator with underground utility experience and the ability to safely excavate around live facilities, we want to hear from you.
A CDL is preferred but NOT required.
Please clearly describe your equipment operating and underground utility experience when applying.
We can teach you our procedures. We should not have to teach an experienced operator how to take care of equipment, show up for work, or respect underground utilities.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $24.00 - $38.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Ohio (Required)
- CDL A (Required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: On the road
