Heavy Equipment Operator Sideboom

Front End Limited Company (FELCO); Eastern Province; On-site; SAR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Front End Limited Company (FELCO) seeks an experienced Heavy Equipment Operator - Sideboom for a full-time, on-site role in Saudi Arabia.

You will lift, carry, and lower pipe along the right-of-way, follow lift plans and load charts, and coordinate with riggers and foremen to maintain spread progress and safety on site.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years operating sidebooms/pipelayers on pipeline construction, incl. two years in GCC.
• Experience on Caterpillar pipelayers 561/572/583/587 or equivalent.
• Experience of lowering-in and multi-machine lifts on live spreads.
• Ability to read and apply load charts for boom counterweight and radius.
• Saudi Aramco operator approval preferred.
• Valid Saudi heavy vehicle equipment licence or ability to obtain on mobilisation.
• Medical fitness certificate for heavy equipment operation.
• H2S familiarisation and basic fire fighting/first aid cert or willingness to obtain on mobilisation.

Responsibilities

• Operate the sideboom strictly to the manufacturer’s load chart and lift plan.
• Holding pipe in alignment for welding front without shock loading.
• Lower welded strings into the trench in coordinated multi-machine lifts.
• Complete pre-use inspections each shift and report defects.
• Assess ground bearing capacity and stability before positioning.
• Work to signals from the rigger under the direction of the Pipeline Foreman and Lifting Supervisor.

Skills

Sideboom operation

Pipelayer experience

GCC experience

Caterpillar pipelayers

Load chart reading

Rigging coordination

Safety compliance

Defensive driving

Medical fitness

English/Arabic comms

Tools

Caterpillar pipelayers 561/572/583/587

Job description

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced Heavy Equipment Operator Sideboom for a full-time on-site role in Saudi Arabia The Sideboom Operator lifts carries holds and lowers pipe along the right-of-way supporting the stringing welding coating and lowering-in fronts on pipeline construction Responsibilities include operating the sideboom strictly to the manufacturer s load chart and the approved lift plan holding pipe in alignment for the welding front without shock loading lowering welded strings into the trench in coordinated multi-machine lifts completing documented pre-use inspections each shift and reporting defects assessing ground bearing capacity and stability before positioning and working to signals from the designated rigger under the direction of the Pipeline Foreman and Lifting Supervisor The candidate will play a key role in maintaining spread progress while upholding lifting safety standards on site Aramco-approved operators are preferred

Responsibilities

• operating the sideboom strictly to the manufacturer s load chart and the approved lift plan
• holding pipe in alignment for the welding front without shock loading
• lowering welded strings into the trench in coordinated multi-machine lifts
• completing documented pre-use inspections each shift and reporting defects
• assessing ground bearing capacity and stability before positioning
• working to signals from the designated rigger under the direction of the Pipeline Foreman and Lifting Supervisor

Qualifications

• Minimum five 5 years operating sidebooms pipelayers on pipeline construction of which at least two 2 years in the GCC
• Demonstrated experience on Caterpillar pipelayers 561 572 583 587 series or equivalent stated by model
• Experience of lowering-in and tandem or multi-machine lifts on live spreads
• Working knowledge of load charts with the ability to read and apply the chart for the boom counterweight and radius configuration in use
• Previous Saudi Aramco operator approval is preferred
• Valid Saudi heavy vehicle equipment driving licence or ability to obtain one on mobilisation
• Valid Medical Fitness certificate for heavy equipment operation
• H2S Familiarization and Basic Fire Fighting First Aid certification or willingness to complete on mobilisation
• Defensive Driving certificate desirable
• Passport valid for at least six 6 months
• Strong background in pipeline construction operations including stringing welding support lowering-in tie-ins and crossings
• Skills in machine inspection and operator-level maintenance with disciplined defect reporting and daily log keeping
• Ability to assess ground conditions gradient and trench-edge proximity and to work safely alongside adjacent machines and crews
• Ability to receive and confirm hand and radio signals and to understand permit and lift-plan briefings functional English or Arabic sufficient for safety communication
• Commitment to stop-work authority exclusion zone discipline and full PPE compliance at all times
• Willingness to work extended shifts six days per week on a camp-based rotation in remote right-of-way locations
• Cross-country transmission pipeline experience on large diameter 24 inch and above is highly desirable
• Prior work on Saudi Aramco scope with a main contractor is highly desirable