Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy Equipment Operator -- Up to $32 -- Weekly Pay

Job Description

This role operates heavy construction equipment, including motor graders, dozers, excavators, and related machinery, to support large civil site and earthwork projects. You will perform site maintenance on haul roads and surcharges, complete excavation and grading tasks, and safely load haul trucks while maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Operate motor graders (JD 872 series) to perform site maintenance on haul roads and surcharges with precision.
• Run dozers (D6–D8) to complete earthwork, grading, and site preparation activities on large dirt projects.
• Operate full-sized 300 series excavators and mini excavators to load haul trucks and dig footings and other excavations as required.
• Use wheel loaders, front-end loaders, skid steers, backhoes, tractors, scrapers, and other heavy equipment to support civil site and construction operations.
• Perform fine grading and GPS-assisted grading to meet project specifications and tolerances.
• Carry out excavation and earthworks for civil construction and civil site development, ensuring safe and efficient equipment operation.
• Conduct pre-operation and post-operation inspections of equipment to identify and report maintenance needs or safety concerns.
• Follow all site safety procedures, including participating in daily safety group meetings before work begins.
• Coordinate with site supervisors and crew members to complete tasks on schedule and adapt to changing project needs.
• Operate equipment with antler controls located near the armrest on the motor grader, maintaining comfort and control during extended shifts.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area around equipment and adhere to all site rules and traffic patterns.
• Work required overtime, including most Saturdays and some Sundays, to meet project deadlines.

Essential Skills

• At least 4 years of experience operating excavators and dozers, or motor graders, on construction or civil site projects.
• Proficiency operating motor graders, specifically JD 872 series, for haul road and surcharge maintenance.
• Demonstrated skill operating dozers (D6–D8) for earthworks, grading, and site preparation.
• Experience operating full-sized 300 series excavators and mini excavators for loading haul trucks and digging footings.
• Strong heavy equipment operation skills across multiple machines, including wheel loaders, front-end loaders, backhoes, skid steers, tractors, scrapers, and bulldozers.
• Hands-on experience in excavation, earthworks, and civil construction or civil site work.
• Ability to perform fine grading, including GPS-guided grading, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Capability to operate track hoes and other heavy equipment safely and efficiently over long shifts.
• OneSource level 2 or higher qualification.
• Solid understanding of construction site safety practices and commitment to following safety protocols.
• Reliability and willingness to work required overtime, including long days and weekend shifts.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Broad experience across heavy equipment such as motor graders, dozers, bulldozers, loaders, excavators, backhoes, tractors, scrapers, and skid steers.
• Experience in civil construction and civil site development projects, including large-scale earthworks.
• Familiarity with GPS systems and controls for grading and equipment positioning.
• Comfort using antler controls located near the armrest on motor graders.
• Ability to read and follow directions from supervisors and adapt to changing work priorities on large job sites.
• Strong situational awareness on active construction sites with multiple pieces of moving equipment.
• Good communication skills to coordinate with crew members and contribute to a safe, efficient work environment.

Why Work Here?

The company offers a supportive environment where skilled equipment operators can work on large, high-profile projects and develop their expertise with modern machinery and GPS-guided systems. Employees receive company-paid health insurance, with 100% coverage for single plans and 75% coverage for family plans, along with paid holidays and vacation. The culture emphasizes safety, teamwork, and reliability, providing stable, full-time work with regular overtime opportunities for those who want to maximize their earnings while building a long-term career in heavy civil construction.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Lincoln, NE.

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $35.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Lincoln,NE.

This position is anticipated to close on May 6, 2026.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.