Lead Heavy Forklift Operator (Steel)

Job Title: Lead Heavy Forklift Operator (Steel)

Location: South Sacramento, CA

Pay: $21 - $26 DOE

Schedule: Monday - Thursday / 4.10 / 5AM start time

Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated Lead Heavy Forklift Operator who will take on a supervisory role, overseeing painters and cleaners while ensuring efficient material handling throughout the facility. This position demands expertise in operating heavy forklifts, particularly for managing and moving substantial materials, including pieces that are 40-50 feet long and weigh up to 15,000 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate the activities of painters and cleaners.
• Efficiently handle and transport heavy materials using a 16,000lb forklift.
• Supply cleaning and painting stations with materials according to set priorities.
• Conduct thorough checks of painted members before they are moved outside for loading.
• Stage I-beams and pipes in the shop to facilitate machinists and welders.
• Receive and process work orders, ensuring all parts are gathered and placed on pallets.
• Operate the forklift to move parts, some weighing over 50lbs, throughout the yard and shop.
• Potentially operate an overhead crane as required.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in operating heavy forklifts, particularly in non-warehouse settings such as lumber yards or metal yards.
• Ability to balance and maneuver large beams through tight spaces.
• Strong leadership and communication skills to effectively supervise a team.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with staging and order pulling in an industrial setting.
• Capability to work in varying weather conditions, including heat and cold.

Why Work Here?

Join a dynamic team where your leadership and material handling skills are valued. Enjoy the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment that supports growth and development. Benefit from a work schedule that offers a 6am start time with four 10-hour shifts, providing you with work-life balance.

Work Environment

The work environment is an open shop with fabrication and welding activities on one side and parts assembly on the other. Employees must be comfortable working in varying weather conditions and temperatures.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sacramento, CA.

The pay range for this position is $21.00 - $26.00/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 Sacramento,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on May 15, 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.