Heavy Equipment Operator, Quarry

Minerals Technologies; Lucerne Valley (CA); On-site; USD 84,401,000 - 119,660,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision

401k Match

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Educational Assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Vacation & Holidays

Overtime Incentives

Job summary

Minerals Technologies Inc. in Lucerne Valley, CA is seeking a Quarry Technician to operate and maintain equipment for safe and efficient quarry production.

Responsibilities include drilling blast holes, supporting blasting activities, operating crushing and loading equipment, and transporting material throughout the quarry. The role requires the ability to work with heavy machinery, follow safety procedures, and maintain documentation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Experience in mining or quarry operations is preferred but not required.
• Ability to follow instructions and work safely in a quarry environment.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain equipment to support quarry operations.
• Drill blast holes and assist with blasting activities.
• Load, transport, and process stone within the quarry.
• Perform inspections and ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Safety compliance

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

D9 Dozer

IR DM45 Drill

IR ECM 670 Drill

CAT machinery

Bobcat equipment

Job description

Overview

Minerals Technologies Inc.is a global, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a wide range of minerals and mineral-based products and services.

Our products are an essential part of everyday life for millions of people around the world. They are used in consumer goods in paper and packaging, food and pharmaceuticals, household and personal care, pet care, automotives, and many more, as well as in industrial settings like steelmaking, metalcasting, construction, infrastructure, and wastewater remediation.

We are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MTX, headquartered in New York City, and have over 150 locations worldwide, with ~4,000 employees in 34 countries and 12 R&D centers.

We put people at the center of everything we do -- working safely, communicating openly, and managing our resources and businesses responsibly.

Company: Specialty Minerals Inc., a Minerals Technologies company, is the largest supplier and global leader in providing Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) specially designed for customers' application needs.

Position: Quarry Technician

Location: Lucerne Valley, CA

Compensation: $29.44 - $41.76 per hour

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
• Health/Dental/Vision plans
• 401k company match
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
• Educational Assistance
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Vacation Pay, Holiday Pay, Personal Days, and Sick Days
• This position is overtime eligible and we offer quarterly plant incentives

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The Quarry Technician is responsible for operating and maintaining equipment and processes necessary to support safe and efficient quarry operations. Responsibilities include identifying and extracting stone based on production requirements, drilling blast holes, assisting with blasting activities, operating crushing and loading equipment, maintaining haul roads, and transporting material throughout the quarry.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

The following duties are representative of the primary responsibilities of the position:

• Operate water trucks to control dust on quarry roads and plant areas.
• Operate motor graders to maintain quarry roads and access routes.
• Operate heavy equipment including, but not limited to:
• D9 Dozer
• IR DM45 Drill
• IR ECM 670 Drill
• Production haul trucks
• CAT 988 Front-End Loader
• CAT 992C Front-End Loader
• CAT 992G Front-End Loader
• CAT 950 Mill Loader
• Bobcat equipment
• Guzzler vacuum truck
• Freightliner truck
• Perform drilling and blasting support activities, including blast planning, initiation activities, and explosives inventory management.
• Operate crushing equipment and support quarry production processes.
• Load trucks and transport stone throughout the quarry.
• Break and process material to meet production requirements.
• Conduct equipment inspections and identify operational or maintenance concerns.
• Maintain compliance with all company, MSHA, OSHA, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Train and mentor employees in the safe operation of equipment when qualified to do so.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Assist with special projects and operational needs as required.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and departmental training activities.

Qualifications

The requirements listed in the sections that follow are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions (primary duties) of the job.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience

• Prior experience in mining, quarry operations, construction, heavy equipment operation, or industrial manufacturing is preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of quarry operations, heavy equipment, and production processes preferred.
• Ability to safely operate and monitor heavy equipment and mobile machinery.
• Ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve operational and equipment-related issues.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions accurately.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
• Ability to train and transfer knowledge to other employees.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage time effectively.
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgment and decision-making in a production environment.
• Ability to maintain a high level of dependability, integrity, and professionalism.
• Ability to comply with all safety rules, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, employees are regularly required to:

• Sit, stand, walk, bend, squat, climb, reach, twist, and perform repetitive motions.
• Enter and exit mobile equipment frequently.
• Operate, monitor, and adjust equipment controls.
• Use hand tools and other equipment necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Visually inspect equipment, work areas, and quarry materials.
• Read, write, speak, understand, and communicate effectively in English.
• Complete operational records and related documentation accurately.
• Remain aware of surrounding personnel, equipment, and changing work conditions.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

Work Schedule

Employees must be available to work the hours necessary to meet business needs, including:

• Overtime
• Weekends
• Holidays
• Alternate shifts, as required

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an active quarry environment and includes regular exposure to:

• Dust and airborne particulates
• Loud noise levels
• Heavy mobile equipment
• High elevations and elevated work areas
• Outdoor weather conditions
• Variable lighting conditions, including low-light and bright-light environments

Employees work both independently and as part of a team and frequently work in close proximity to operating equipment.

Safety Equipment Requirements

Employees are required to wear and utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including:

• Personal lockout/tagout lock
• ANSI-approved hard hat
• ANSI-approved safety glasses with side shields
• Steel-toe safety boots or shoes
• Hearing protection during truck driving, crushing, loading, drilling, and blasting operations

Additional PPE may be required depending on the task being performed.

When conducting drilling operations at heights of six (6) feet or greater without guardrails, employees must use an approved fall protection system, including a harness and lanyard.

Safety Training Requirements

New employees assigned to this position must successfully complete New Employee Training conducted by a qualified trainer. Training consists of:

• Eight (8) hours of classroom instruction
• Sixteen (16) hours of on-the-job training

Training topics include, but are not limited to:

• Mobile equipment operation and certification
• Hazard communication
• Hearing conservation
• Respiratory protection
• Electrical safety
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
• Personal protective equipment
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Fire prevention and extinguisher use
• Machine guarding and safety
• Confined space awareness
• Incident and hazard reporting
• Emergency response and evacuation procedures
• First aid
• Back injury prevention
• Job and work area procedures

Employees transferring into this position must receive New Task Training and demonstrate competency in assigned duties before performing work independently. Additional training will be provided whenever job duties, equipment, procedures, or processes change in a manner that impacts employee health or safety. Refresher training may also be required as determined by management or as mandated by applicable MSHA, OSHA, or other regulatory requirements.

Federal Applicant Information