Backhoe Operator I

North American Rail Solutions; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

American Track is seeking a skilled backhoe operator for railroad construction and maintenance projects. The role includes operating backhoes and on-track machines, with training on Tamper and Ballast Regulator equipment.

Expect some travel and weekend work as projects demand. Competitive pay and a robust benefits package are offered, including insurance and 401k, with opportunities to grow skills in rail equipment operations.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience operating a backhoe in a railroad construction environment preferred.
• Willingness to be trained on specialty railroad machinery.
• Ability to lead a crew and delegate work within scope.

Responsibilities

• Operate all machinery in a safe manner.
• Set up heavy construction equipment.
• Perform pre-start checks and daily maintenance including lubrication and documentation.
• Grade and redistribute earth to meet plan requirements.
• Move, load or unload materials with equipment.
• Assist with on-track machinery operations as required.

Skills

Backhoe operation

Railroad construction experience

Safety awareness

Crew leadership / supervision

Tools

Tamper machine

Ballast Regulator

Job description

American Track recognizes that earthwork is a vital part of almost all railroad construction projects. With our equipment and expertise, we offer a broad range of earthwork services and our backhoe operators are at the heart of our operations. The backhoe operator is an hourly-rated skilled craft position that works on construction and maintenance projects and performs any combination of the duties described below. A backhoe operator typically performs a wide variety of tasks, transferring from one task to another as the workflow dictates. The applicant who fills this position will also be trained on and operate specialty railroad machinery that include a Tamper machine and Ballast Regulator. The applicant is being hired with the intent of working as a backhoe operator as well as an operator of our on-track machines. Some travel/ weekend work should be expected. We offer competitive pay, paid time off, holiday pay, 401k and a robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.

Job Responsibilities

• Operate all machinery in a safe manner
• Sets up heavy construction equipment
• 1+ years of experience operating a backhoe with experience in a railroad construction environment preferred.
• Proper pre-start and daily Maintenance- Including lubrication and required documentation
• Keep equipment clean and well-maintained (perform required maintenance)
• Operates equipment to grade or redistribute earth
• Operates equipment to move, load or unload material
• Installs equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
• Signals directions or warnings to coworkers
• Coordinates machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members
• Locates underground services, such as pipes and wires, prior to beginning work
• Studies instructions, plans, and diagrams to establish work requirements
• Grade plan requirements and set grade standards
• Demonstrate the ability to lead a crew and delegate work within work scope
• Understand production and quantity requirements
• Make decisions based on verifiable standards
• Perform incidental work items and duties included within other crafts including operating on-track machinery
• Assist crews with necessary labor on an as-needed basis
• Ability and willingness to be trained as well as train others on the machine

This is an evergreen posting that supports our ongoing talent pipeline and is used to collect applications for future openings. We review all submissions, and candidates whose qualifications best align with our needs will be contacted as opportunities become available.

Thank you for your interest in this position and for taking the time to apply. We appreciate your patience as we review all applications. While we will provide updates as soon as they are available, please note that we may not be able to respond to all applicants individually.