Blade operator

Mining Heavy Equipment Operator

Surface mines succeed when the right material moves safely, on grade, and on time. This seat turns the daily dig plan into tons—excavating, loading, hauling, and placing rock so production, cost, and reclamation stay on target. You will be trusted with high-value equipment and the people working around it. Success is a safe shift, reliable cycle times, and material exactly where the plan requires it.

Performance Objectives

• Run excavators, loaders, haul trucks, and dozers to meet daily production targets while holding bench, grade, and haul-road standards.

• Complete pre-shift inspections and report defects before they become downtime, keeping assigned equipment available for scheduled hours.

• Load and haul within payload and cycle-time limits so stockpiles, dumps, and processing stay fed without bottlenecks.

• Hold pit traffic rules, spotting protocols, and safe working distances with zero preventable incidents on your shift.

• Place overburden, ore, and aggregate to spec and flag delays immediately so drill, blast, and processing handoffs stay coordinated.

• Build and maintain ramps, roads, and dump areas to supervisor standards, cutting rework and keeping trucks moving.

• Close each shift with accurate production, fuel, and delay notes so the next crew starts informed.

Environment \& Resources

You report to the site superintendent or shift supervisor on a contract surface-mining crew, working alongside mine planning, maintenance, and blasting. The fleet includes late-model excavators, rigid and articulated haul trucks, wheel loaders, and dozers, backed by an on-site shop and standard inspection routines. Work follows mine production—often rotating shifts in active pits and quarries, outdoors in all weather.

Essential Qualifications

• Proven seat time on heavy equipment in surface mining, quarry, or heavy civil earthmoving.

• Credentials required by the site and jurisdiction for the machines you will operate.

• Ability to read mine maps, grade stakes, and daily dig plans and execute them without constant direction.

• A consistent safety record and the judgment to stop work when conditions are unsafe.

• Clear radio communication and reliable shift documentation.

• Ability to climb in and out of equipment safely and work full shifts in pit conditions.

Role Selling Points

• Operators help shape how the pit runs, not just follow a load ticket.

• Full-cycle surface work: mass excavation, loading, hauling, processing support, and reclamation.

• A maintained fleet and shop support so shifts are spent producing, not nursing breakdowns.

• A path into lead operator, trainer, or site supervision as projects scale.

• Work you can see: safer pits, cleaner benches, and production that holds.