HDD Team Lead

HDD Team Lead / Crew Foreman

Texas — Full-Time | Travel Required | Per Diem Paid

We are looking for an HDD Team Lead for underground utility projects.This is a hands-on field leadership position responsible for safely directing a 4–5-person horizontal directional drilling crew. The Team Lead must understand every crew position and be capable of operating the drill or locating when needed.

Note: This role is for horizontal directional drilling for underground utility and infrastructure projects. It is not an oil or gas well drilling position.

Responsibilities

· Plan daily work and assign crew responsibilities.

· Conduct daily safety meetings and job safety analyses.

· Lead rig setup, bore operations, reaming, pullback, and rig moves.

· Read construction drawings and develop bore plans.

· Verify utility locates, clearances, entry and exit angles, and cover requirements.

· Select appropriate tooling, reamers, swivels, subs, and mud systems.

· Maintain production without compromising safety or quality.

· Train, mentor, and evaluate crew members.

· Coordinate equipment, tooling, materials, and preventative maintenance.

· Communicate with customers, project managers, and field management.

· Complete daily reports, timesheets, inspections, and material inventories.

· Document delays, equipment problems, safety concerns, and jobsite issues.

· Stop unsafe work and enforce company SOPs, PPE requirements, and environmental procedures.

Required Qualifications

· At least 3 years of horizontal directional drilling experience.

· Previous experience leading or supervising an HDD crew.

· Ability to independently operate an HDD drill and locate a bore.

· Experience with bore planning, utility crossings, drilling fluids, tooling selection, and hole-cleaning procedures.

· Working knowledge of dirt and rock drilling, pilot bores, reaming, and pullback operations.

· Ability to troubleshoot lost returns, pressure problems, steering issues, stuck tooling, poor penetration, and mechanical failures.

· Valid driver's license and at least 21 years of age.

· Willingness to travel, work overtime, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.

· Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug/alcohol screening.

· Strong safety record and professional leadership style.

Preferred Experience

· Two or more years supervising HDD crews.

· Vermeer D100x140 or comparable 100-class rig experience.

· Rock drilling and mud-motor operation.

· Large-diameter or long-distance crossings.

· Highway, railroad, wetland, or environmentally sensitive crossings.

· Inadvertent-return prevention and response.

· DigiTrak or Underground Magnetics locating systems.

· CDL, PEC SafeLand, H2S, or TWIC credentials.

Compensation and Benefits

·$34-40/hour

· Paid per diem for travel

· Weekly pay

· Medical, dental, and vision insurance after 60 days

· Employer-paid life insurance after 60 days

·401(k)

· Paid holidays

· Paid vacation after the first year