Heavy Equipment Mechanic

TerraFirma; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

TerraFirma, a startup delivering autonomous construction solutions, seeks a field-service maintenance technician to keep CAT D6/D8 dozers, CAT 336 excavators, and related heavy civil equipment running on-site and in the shop.

This hands-on, self-sufficient role covers routine maintenance, fueling, and real mechanical troubleshooting in the field. Expect on-call duties, extended hours, and a relocation to Austin, TX as needed.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience diagnosing and repairing commercial earthworks equipment.
• Capable of scheduled maintenance and unplanned field repairs.
• Willingness to relocate to Austin, TX.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain CAT dozers and excavators, in shop or on active job sites.
• Perform routine maintenance including greasing, fluid checks, and scheduled service across the fleet.
• Fuel equipment on active job sites and manage a diesel fuel trailer to top off machines during idle periods or between operations.
• Provide basic maintenance and troubleshooting support for sensors, wiring, and hardware kits for semi-autonomous equipment.
• Track equipment condition, maintenance history, and parts inventory to keep the fleet running reliably.
• Respond quickly to minimize downtime and coordinate with operators and field teams to identify issues early and prioritize repairs.

Skills

Diesel engines

Hydraulic systems

Electrical systems

Independent worker

On-call readiness

Education

ASE or heavy equipment/diesel certifications

Job description

At TerraFirma, we’re redefining how the world moves earth for construction. Founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Kleiner Perkins and Bain Capital Ventures, TerraFirma is automating construction to make it faster, cheaper, and safer.

Our Story & Mission

At SpaceX, we were part of the teams that built the largest rocket in human history, launched the largest constellation of satellites ever made, and delivered connectivity to millions of people worldwide. What we learned was simple: infrastructure is everything.

At Starbase, the biggest barrier to launching missions to Mars was not building the rocket. It was how slow, expensive, and complex it was to build the infrastructure around it. We lacked buildings, roads, water, power, communications, and waste management, and constructing them took far more time and resources than it should have.

From a first-principles perspective, that doesn't make sense. It shouldn't be this hard or costly to create the foundations for progress. That’s when we realized something important: the same engineering mindset that enabled us to tackle space exploration and mass manufacturing could be applied to infrastructure. By bringing the principles of simplification, iteration, acceleration, and automation to construction, we can unlock a new era in how the world builds.

Accelerating infrastructure unlocks progress across every domain, creating a self-sustaining engine for tackling humanity’s toughest challenges. The innovations we develop on Earth will lay the groundwork for the technologies that one day make settlement on Mars possible.

Job Overview

You will keep TerraFirma's fleet of commercial earthworks equipment such as CAT D6/D8 dozers and CAT 336 excavators running and ready, wherever it's needed. This is a hands-on, self-sufficient role: you'll handle everything from routine maintenance and fueling to real mechanical troubleshooting in the field and at the shop. As our equipment increasingly combines traditional mechanical systems with the sensors, controllers, and hardware that enable semi-autonomous operation, you'll be the person who keeps all of it functioning, on-site, on short notice.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain commercial earthworks equipment such as CAT D6/D8 dozers, CAT 336 excavators, and similar heavy civil equipment, both in the shop and on active job sites
• Perform routine maintenance including greasing, fluid checks, and scheduled service across the fleet
• Fuel equipment on active job sites, including towing and managing a diesel fuel trailer to top off machines during idle periods or between operations
• Provide basic maintenance and troubleshooting support for the sensors, wiring, and hardware kits that enable TerraFirma's semi-autonomous equipment
• Track equipment condition, maintenance history, and parts inventory to keep the fleet running reliably
• Respond quickly and be consistently available to minimize equipment downtime and keep field operations moving
• Coordinate with operators and field teams to identify issues early and prioritize repairs

Basic Qualifications

• Proven hands-on experience diagnosing and repairing commercial earthworks equipment such as CAT dozers, excavators, graders, or similar
• Comfortable performing both scheduled maintenance and unplanned field repairs independently
• Strong working knowledge of diesel engines, hydraulic systems, and heavy equipment electrical systems
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and prioritize competing maintenance needs

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience maintaining or troubleshooting electronic control systems, sensors, or wiring harnesses on modern equipment
• ASE or other relevant heavy equipment/diesel mechanic certifications
• Experience running a mobile or field-service maintenance operation, including towing and managing a fuel trailer
• Comfortable picking up new technical skills quickly, including basic electronics or sensor-kit troubleshooting
• Experience in a fast-growing or startup environment

Additional Requirements

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment
• Must be available for on-call or short-notice response to minimize equipment downtime
• Must be willing to relocate to Austin, TX if not within commuting distance
• Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends when needed to support critical field operations