Equipment Operator

Empire Netting and Fence; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Opportunities to grow leadership

Opportunities to travel

Job summary

Empire Netting and Fence is seeking an experienced Equipment Operator to run dump trucks, skid loaders, and mini excavators, while also welding and fabricating as needed. You will read blueprints, interpret grade stakes, and help keep projects moving.

We value leadership, safety, and pride in craft. A CDL and hands-on welding experience are required, with OSHA 10 preferred and willingness to pursue OSHA 30.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid CDL and hands-on welding experience.
• OSHA 10 certification with willingness to work toward OSHA 30.

Responsibilities

• Operate dump trucks, skid loaders, mini excavators and other equipment.
• Perform welding, basic fabrication, and repairs as needed.
• Read blueprints, layouts, grade stakes and job specs.
• Lead, coach and develop less experienced crew members.
• Ensure projects stay on schedule and jobsites safe and organized.

Skills

Dump trucks operation

Skid loader operation

Mini excavator operation

Welding

Blueprint reading

Grade stakes reading

Leadership

Safety compliance

Problem solving

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Welding tools

Fabrication basics

OSHA 10 (preferred)

Job description

$25–$35/hour | Empire

Tired of Being the Person Everyone Counts On, but Never Getting the Recognition You Deserve?

You're the one who knows how to run the equipment, solve problems, and keep a job moving. When something goes wrong, people look to you for answers.

But what happens when you're giving your best to a company that doesn't seem to notice?

What if your next job actually took you somewhere?

At Empire, we're looking for an experienced Equipment Operator who brings more than equipment skills to the jobsite. We want someone who takes pride in their work, isn't afraid to get their hands dirty, knows their way around a welder, and wants to be part of a crew that has each other's backs.

Someone who's ready to stop just putting in hours and start building a future.

You Might Be Our Kind of Person If...

• You don't need someone standing over your shoulder to get things done.
• You can jump into a dump truck, skid loader, or mini excavator and confidently get to work.
• You know how to weld and aren't afraid to put those skills to use when something needs built, repaired, or fixed.
• You see problems coming and take action before they slow everyone down.
• You understand grades, layouts, blueprints, and what it takes to keep a project moving.
• You take care of equipment because you respect the tools that help you earn a living.
• You enjoy teaching younger crew members instead of complaining about what they don't know.
• You hold yourself to a higher standard, even when nobody's watching.
• You want to work alongside people who take as much pride in their work as you do.

You don't just want to run equipment. You want to be someone your crew respects and your company values.

Sound familiar?

You Work Hard. Your Life Outside of Work Should Matter, Too.

Around Empire, our people have plenty of passions outside the jobsite.

Some spend their weekends hunting or fishing. Others love racing, sports, being outdoors, or spending time with their families.

We understand that the reason you work hard isn't just to collect a paycheck.

It's to build a life you're proud of.

Imagine having the opportunity to earn a good living, travel the country, develop your leadership skills, and build something meaningful with people you actually enjoy working beside.

What could a career like that mean for you and your family?

We're Looking for Someone Who Lives Our Values.

At Empire, our five core values define the kind of people we want on our team.

GRIT — You don't quit when things get difficult. Bad weather, long days, and unexpected challenges don't scare you.

LOYALTY — You have your crew's back, and you want to work with people who have yours.

ENJOYING THE JOURNEY — You believe hard work and good times can go together. You enjoy the friendships, challenges, and memories made along the way.

INTEGRITY — You do the right thing, even when nobody is looking.

POSITIVE MINDSET — You bring solutions, not excuses. When things go wrong, you help figure out how to make them right.

If that's how you're wired, you might have just found your people.

What You'll Bring to the Team

We're looking for an experienced operator who's ready to make an impact from day one.

Your Experience Should Include

• Operating dump trucks, skid loaders, mini excavators, and other construction equipment.
• Performing welding, basic fabrication, and equipment repairs as needed.
• Reading blueprints, layouts, grade stakes, and job specifications.
• Understanding grades, calculating concrete requirements, and verifying underground utility markings.
• Planning ahead for materials, equipment, manpower, and deliveries.
• Helping keep projects on schedule and jobsites running efficiently.
• Leading, coaching, and developing less experienced crew members.
• Assigning daily responsibilities and communicating expectations.
• Working with superintendents and project managers to keep projects moving.
• Maintaining equipment and keeping jobsites safe, clean, and organized.
• Holding yourself and your crew accountable for quality and safety.
• Helping conduct crew evaluations and corrective actions when needed.
• Solving problems, taking initiative, and continuing to grow as a leader.

What We Need From You

We're Also Looking For

A valid CDL and hands-on welding experience are required.

• Experience operating dump trucks and skid loaders.
• Welding experience with the ability to perform basic welding, fabrication, and repair work safely and effectively.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• U.S. work authorization.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted.
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel, climb ladders and stairs, work at heights, and handle changing weather conditions.
• OSHA 10 certification with willingness to work toward OSHA 30.

OSHA 30 Is Preferred.

What Could Your Future Look Like at Empire?

$25.00–$35.00 per hour, based on experience.

Benefits Include

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Opportunities to grow your leadership skills
• Opportunities to travel and experience different parts of the country

But there's something else worth thinking about.

What would it feel like to work somewhere your experience matters?

Where you're trusted to make decisions, encouraged to grow, and surrounded by people who want to succeed together?

Where your ability to operate equipment, weld, solve problems, and lead others makes you a valuable part of the team?

Where you're not just another person running a machine?

Maybe You Don't Need Another Job. Maybe You Need a Better Place to Build Your Future.

You've already put in the time to learn your trade.

You've worked the long days. You've dealt with the breakdowns, the weather, and the pressure to get things done.

You know how to operate equipment. You know how to weld. You know how to figure things out when the job doesn't go according to plan.

Now imagine putting that same effort into a company where it could lead to something bigger.

More opportunity. More responsibility. Stronger relationships. A future you can be proud of.

We're not looking for just anybody who can operate equipment.

We're looking for someone who brings skill, grit, and pride to everything they do—and wants to help build something great.

Could that person be you?