Farm Irrigation Technician

City of Lubbock; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Lubbock is seeking a hands-on Agriculture Equipment Operator to operate, maintain, and repair a range of heavy equipment used in farming and irrigation projects. The role requires experience with center pivot irrigation and pumps, plus the ability to manage parts inventories and coordinate field activities.

The position involves long hours, including weekend duty and on-call coverage, and requires a valid Texas driver’s license.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 1–3 years of farm labor experience.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License required; a current Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred
• Knowledge of TCEQ wastewater permit and related compliance
• Physical stamina for labor-intensive tasks and ability to operate heavy agricultural equipment
• Ability to follow instructions and safety guidelines

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain heavy equipment such as tractors, harvesters, cultivators, backhoes, irrigation equipment.
• Inspect equipment and perform routine maintenance and repairs.
• Assist with planting, irrigating, and harvesting crops.
• Maintain inventory of parts and supplies.
• Coordinate irrigation activities with farming operations.
• Rotate weekend duty and be on-call.
• Comply with all State regulations and TCEQ permit; maintain required records.
• Communicate with farm management on equipment condition.

Skills

Operate heavy equipment

Center pivot irrigation

Record keeping

Safety compliance

Education

High school diploma

Farm labor experience

Tools

Center pivot equipment

Pumps

Pipelines

Flow meters

Job description

Operate and maintain various types of agricultural heavy equipment such as tractors, harvesters, cultivators, maintainers, backhoes, irrigation equipment and complex irrigation systems. Inspect equipment regularly to ensure it is in good working order. Perform routine maintenance and repairs on all heavy equipment and complex irrigation systems as needed. Assist with physical labor tasks as necessary, including planting, irrigating, and harvesting crops.

• Ability to learn, understand and follow TCEQ wastewater permit.
• Operate, maintain, and repair various types of agricultural heavy equipment used in the construction and repair of dams, borders, unpaved roads, pivot tracks, and farming operations such as tillage, planting, and harvesting.
• Maintain and perform minor repairs of heavy agricultural equipment such as hoses, filters, oil and all other fluids. Replace bearings, discs, tires, sweeps as needed.
• Operate, set, and maintain spray equipment used for pesticide applications
• Operate, a variety of very large equipment used in cultivation and harvesting of agricultural crops on 5,000 acres+/-.
• Maintain inventory of parts and supplies needed on a regular basis.
• Assist with physical labor tasks as necessary in a large farming operation, including planting, irrigating, and harvesting crops.
• Operate, maintain and repair complex irrigation system components such as high voltage electrical center pivots systems, surface irrigation, flow meters, air vents, flush valves, etc.
• Operate and maintain complex pumping and pipeline systems.
• Closely monitor all irrigation system operations, make adjustments or changes as necessary.
• Calculate application rates, acreage, flows, and volumes. Follow water balance plan.
• Coordinate irrigation activities with farming activities.
• Rotate weekend duty and on-call duty. Work Saturday and Sunday during weekend duty and be available on an on-call basis for the week prior to weekend duty.
• Comply with all State regulations and TCEQ permit.
• Maintain records required by TCEQ permit.
• Notify supervisor immediately of potential TCEQ permit violations.
• Communicate effectively with farm management in reference to the condition of heavy equipment and machinery used on the site.
• Coordinate activities with others.
• Adhere to operational guidelines and procedures.
• Perform related duties as required.

Completion of a high school diploma or the equivalent with an additional one to three years’ farm labor experience including operation, maintenance and repair of center pivot irrigation systems; or any combination of relevant education and experience which provides the following:

Valid Texas Driver’s License required; a current Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred

Physical Exam Required

*** Critical Infrastructure: This position has been determined to have close contact with, or control of Critical Infrastructure components. This position is subject to extensive background checks and random drug screening. ***

Knowledge of:

• Prior experience operating and maintaining heavy agricultural equipment and center pivot irrigation systems, pumps, pipelines, valves, and flow meters.
• Knowledge of farming operations and tasks.
• Knowledge of computer programs and software.
• Knowledge of pump station operation.
• Physical stamina and strength to perform labor-intensive tasks as necessary.
• Good problem-solving skills for diagnosing and repairing equipment issues.
• Ability to follow instructions and safety guidelines.

Ability to:

• Operate, test, and repair heavy agricultural equipment and center-pivot irrigation systems
• Develop and interpret irrigation plans, specifications and details.
• Communicate effectively with others.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 100 pounds
• Frequently walk and stand during shift
• Occasionally climb ladders, stairs and inclined surfaces
• Occasionally crawl when greasing equipment.
• Frequently reach at, above or below shoulder level.
• Coordinate eye, hand and foot movement.
• Frequently rotate upper trunk forward at the waist and partially flex at the knees.
• Frequently rotate upper trunk to the right or left while sitting or standing.