Heavy Equipment Operator

Cleveland-Cliffs; Pontiac (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Education assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is seeking a Heavy Equipment Operator in Pontiac, MI to process scrap metals using a range of equipment and to support daily operations at the site. The role emphasizes safety, equipment maintenance, and efficient material handling in a dynamic industrial environment.

The position requires candidate flexibility, physical stamina, and the ability to work outdoors. We offer a comprehensive compensation package, benefits, and opportunities for part-time education assistance

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High School Diploma/GED or may consider 1+ years of heavy equipment operator experience.
• Must be able to read, write, and perform basic math.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to follow oral and written communication.
• Ability to climb ladders or steps to reach objects.
• Ability to endure physical and outdoor work on a daily basis.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs.
• Work cooperatively with other employees and the public.
• Must be able to work in an environment where routinely exposed to dust, dirt, vibrations, extreme climate and changes in weather.
• Pre-Employment background, physical, and hair drug screen required

Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to safety standards including use of PPE, remove hazards as identified, and maintain cleanliness of the site.
• Operate & maintain heavy equipment including wheeled crawler and pedestal crawlers from manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Sennebogen and Liebherr.
• Operate & maintain equipment movement in response to hand signals or radio commands.
• Load and unload materials from storage, production areas, docks, delivery vehicles, staging areas, or containers using equipment including but not limited to a magnet and grapple.
• Sort recycled materials and metals to separate high‑grade metals and remove non‑conforming metals.
• Load baler and shredder using grapple or magnet.
• Operate & maintain mobile equipment including forklifts, skid steers, manlifts, street sweeper, and/or water trucks.
• Perform tasks involving physical labor using tools such as hand tools, torch, bander, saw zall, and wire snips.
• Perform daily inspections on all equipment.
• Identify scrap including grade and type of material and any undesirable elements.
• Position trailers and containers around the yard and empty gaylord boxes as required.
• Perform cleaning duties related to plant equipment and general housekeeping.
• Assist mechanics in maintenance of equipment.
• Interact with customers or drivers to direct or assist them.
• Perform other tasks and operate & maintain other equipment as required.

Skills

Heavy equipment operator experience

Safety standards adherence

Communication skills

Reading/Writing/Basic math

Independence

Physical stamina outdoors

Lifting up to 50lbs

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Location: Pontiac, MI

Ferrous Processing and Trading (FPT) is one of North America’s premier processors, buyers, sellers and recyclers of scrap metals of all kinds and is a key supplier to the metals industry of North America. FPT is a wholly‑owned business of Cleveland‑Cliffs has an immediate opportunity for an Heavy Equipment Operator on Day Shift at the Pontiac, MI location. The Heavy Equipment Operator is responsible for the processing of scrap metals using various tools and equipment including crawlers.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to safety standards including use of required personal protective equipment (PPE), remove hazards as identified, and maintain cleanliness of the site
• Operate & maintain heavy equipment including but not limited to wheeled crawler and pedestal crawlers from various manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Sennebogen and Liebherr
• Operate & maintain equipment movement in response to hand signals or radio commands.
• Load and unload materials from storage, production areas, docks, delivery vehicles, staging areas, or containers using equipment including but not limited to a magnet and grapple
• Sort a variety of recycled materials and metals to separate out high‑grade metals and removes any non‑conforming metals
• Load baler and shredder using grapple or magnet.
• Operate & maintain mobile equipment including but not limited to forklifts, skid steers, manlifts, street sweeper, and/or water trucks
• Perform tasks involving physical labor using tools, including but not limited to standard hand tools, torch, bander, saw zall, and wire snips
• Perform daily inspections on all equipment as required.
• Identify scrap including the grade and type of material and any undesirable elements within the material
• Responsible for positioning trailers and containers around the yard and emptying gaylord boxes as required
• Perform cleaning duties related to plant equipment and general housekeeping
• Assists mechanics in the maintenance of equipment including plant equipment
• Interacts with customers or drivers to direct or assist them
• Performs other tasks and operates & maintains other equipment as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• High School Diploma/GED or may consider 1+ years of heavy equipment operator experience
• Must be able to read, write, and perform basic math
• Ability to work independently
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain accurate records
• Ability to follow oral and written communication
• Ability to climb ladders or steps to reach objects
• Ability to endure physical and outdoor work on a daily basis.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs
• Work cooperatively with other employees and the public
• Must be able to work in an environment where routinely exposed to dust, dirt, vibrations, extreme climate and changes in weather
• Pre-Employment background, physical, and hair drug screen required

Ferrous Processing and Trading is a subsidiary of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., the largest flat‑rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. Cleveland-Cliffs is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package including competitive pay, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off, and more.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] or call 1-[phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Do not email your application materials to this email address. Application materials sent to this email address will not be considered.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an equal opportunity employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. We are a drug‑free workplace and conduct pre‑employment screening as a condition of employment.