Experienced Snowcat Operator - Winter 2026/27

Mt. Bachelor LLC; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Season pass (employee)

Friends & family passes

Discounts across resort

401k with company match

Employee housing program

Discounted daycare onsite

Employee discounts

IKON pass reciprocal access

Job summary

Mt. Bachelor is seeking an experienced snowcat operator to maintain safe riding surfaces and coordinate with multiple departments for mountain operations. The role requires adapting to variable weather, performing machine checks, and supporting lift access with efficient snow management.

Ideally, candidates have 3+ seasons with snowcats, hold a valid driver's license, and can work swing or graveyard shifts. Mt. Bachelor provides a dynamic mountain environment and team-focused culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ seasons of experience operating snowcats.
• Current and valid driver's license required.
• Experience operating Pistenbully or Prinoth machines.
• Ability to work swing and/or graveyard shifts and adapt to mountain conditions.

Responsibilities

• Proficient in daily machine checks and topping off fluids.
• Communicate with mechanics and understand shop procedures.
• Operate all machine types (Pistenbully or Prinoth).
• Attach and remove blade and tiller from snow cat.
• Inform leads of changes or problems and meet timeframes.
• Open runs and maintain safe riding surfaces across the mountain.
• Establish and maintain lift loading/unloading areas.
• Move snow and assist with padding/grading as needed.

Skills

Snowcat operation

Driver's license

Pistenbully/Prinoth

Physical stamina

Job description

Location: Bend, Oregon

Are you interested in delivering memorable experiences, enhancing people's lives and having fun while doing it? This shared mission of POWDR and Mt. Bachelor creates a fun and inspiring culture that we live every day. We look for employees who are passionate about sharing mountain culture, have a positive attitude, are problem solvers and care about winning as a team. Our vision drives us to deliver exceptional experiences and it's our employees who become the true moment makers here at Mt. Bachelor.

• Free employee season pass and free or discounted dependent(s) season pass
• Free and discounted friends & family day passes
• Free transportation to & from Bend, Sunriver, and La Pine
• Discounts across the resort (food & beverage, retail, rentals, lessons & more)
• Winter season employee housing program & Summer season camping program
• 401k with up to 5% company match & immediate vesting
• Discounted daycare onsite at Mt. Bachelor
• Local & national discounts (YETI, Burton, Dell, Subaru, Nokian, Sunriver Golf, Mammut, & more)
• Free reciprocal access for employees to other POWDR resorts & 50% day passes at IKON pass resorts

Position Summary Experienced snowcat operator in variable weather and snow conditions. Create a safe and consistent riding surface. Work and communicate with other departments for overall maintenance of mountain-building clearance, access to lifts, and consistency of runs.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

• Proficient in daily machine checks and topping off fluids when necessary.
• Understand shop procedures and communicate with mechanics.
• Ability to operate all machine types (Pistenbully or Prinoth).
• Able to attach and remove the blade and tiller from the snow cat.
• Inform leads and supervisors of changes or problems.
• Able to handle difficult tasks within given timeframes.
• Monitor weather conditions to make safety calls to the supervisor.
• Follow all safety procedures.
• Proficient in using the blade and tiller to create safe riding surfaces.
• Open any ski run, mountain-wide, in any condition.
• Check any run for completion, safety, and quality (able to fix any issue).
• Maintain all roads and get-backs, including building the summit climbing road, and catchlines.
• Establish and maintain lift loading and unloading areas.
• Work on dozing projects for padding and/or grading.
• Ability to move around the mountain with minimal direction.
• Clean snow from the machine and keep the interior of the machine clean.

Secondary Function Snowmaking Light mechanical work

Job Scope Operation of equipment to create runs for the public and to keep access to Roads, Lifts, Lodges, and open mechanical buildings for other departments to accomplish their jobs. Move snow as required into and away from areas safely and proficiently, without causing safety issues and/or damage to yourself, co-workers, guests, or the equipment/property being operated or worked around.

Interpersonal Contacts

• Lift Maintenance, Lift Ops, Lift Access, Patrol, Snow Removal, Terrain Parks, Building Maintenance, Electrical, Vehicle Maintenance, and Lodge Services

Specific Job Skills License/Certifications: Current and Valid Driver's License. Technical: Experience and ability to operate all machine types (Pistenbully or Prinoth). Physical Capabilities: Ability to adapt to a changing environment at any given moment. Additional: Ability to work Swing & /or Graveyard shifts: Swing Shift: 4pm -12am Graveyard Shift: 12am - 9am. Education / Related Experience Minimum time in related position: 3+ seasons of experience with snowcats. Physical Demands The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Such accommodations require an interactive discussion with the Human Resources Department before such accommodations can be made. In addition to the specific conditions below, every position at Mt. Bachelor requires the ability to shovel snow and walk on steep and uneven surfaces. While performing the duties of this role, the employee will be required to frequently bend, reach, climb, lift up to 25 pounds, push, pull, and sit or stand for prolonged periods. This individual must be able to ski or snowboard at an intermediate level. This individual may occasionally be exposed to extreme weather conditions, including heat, sun, and cold. Additionally, the position will require frequent visual concentration on equipment and hand/eye coordination.

Current Hiring Rate: $21-25+/hr

Minimum Age Requirement: 18+

Come Work Where You Play!

Mt. Bachelor is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Mt. Bachelor is committed to creating a quality work environment which makes full use of the talents and contributions of all employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship status, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, disability or military status.

POWDR is an adventure lifestyle company that inspires every human being with cool experiences in awesome places. POWDR's awesome places include Copper Mountain and Eldora Mountain Resort in Colorado; Boreal Mountain Resort and Soda Springs in the Lake Tahoe region of California; Mt. Bachelor in Oregon; Snowbird in Utah; and SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada. POWDR is an adventure lifestyle company that inspires every human being with cool experiences in awesome places. Within POWDR’s portfolio are six mountain resorts including Copper Mountain and Eldora Mountain Resort in Colorado; Boreal Mountain Resort and Soda Springs in the Lake Tahoe region of California; Mt. Bachelor in Oregon, and Snowbird in Utah. Included in the POWDR portfolio, is Stovepipe Wells located in Death Valley National Park and Zion Lodge located in Zion National Park, operated under a long-term concessions contract with the National Park Service. Its Woodward brand empowers and inspires the next generation of action sports enthusiasts through summer camps, mountain experiences, and mountain centers, incorporating dynamic programming and innovative environments at Woodward Park City in Utah, Woodward PA in Pennsylvania, Woodward Copper in Colorado, Woodward Tahoe in California. POWDR is headquartered in Park City, UT. For more information, please visit our website.