Horizontal Directional Drill Operator

The Contractor Consultants; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Overtime opportunities

Sign-on bonus for qualified candidates

Referral bonus program

Per diem / lodging support

Job summary

SNAM Communications Inc. is hiring an experienced Horizontal Directional Drill Operator to support underground telecom projects across Utah. You will operate high-value HDD equipment, perform bore operations, and closely coordinate with the Locator and field crew.

Travel throughout Utah is required, and a strong safety record is essential. This is a senior, non-entry-level role that emphasizes equipment setup, maintenance, and safe productive drilling.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years hands-on HDD drill-operation experience.
• Valid CDL and ability to operate directional drilling equipment.
• Knowledge of bore setup, drilling, reaming, and pullback.
• Experience with a Locator and utility exposure safety.
• Willingness to travel and perform daily inspections.

Responsibilities

• Operate Vermeer HDD equipment (D10x15, D20x22, D23x30) safely.
• Perform pilot drilling, reaming, conduit pullback, and related HDD tasks.
• Set up and stabilize the drill for each bore; adjust drill parameters.
• Coordinate with Locator to maintain bore trajectory and depth.
• Inspect equipment daily and perform basic troubleshooting.
• Maintain drilling-fluid systems and prepare for cold-weather ops.
• Transport drilling equipment and maintain safety on site.

Skills

HDD drill-operation

CDL valid

Operate directional drilling equipment

Bore setup and adjustments

Maintenance inspections

Team collaboration

Tools

Vermeer HDD equipment

Job description

Horizontal Directional Drill Operator – Support Underground Utility Construction for Snam Communications Inc

Company: SNAM Communications Inc.

Location: Utah – Salt Lake City area with travel to project sites throughout the state.

Pay: 35-45 per hour, based on experience.

Employment Type: Full-Time.

Travel: Regular project travel required; overnight travel may be necessary.

Required License: Valid CDL.

The Opportunity

SNAM Communications is hiring an experienced Horizontal Directional Drill Operator to support underground telecommunications infrastructure projects throughout Utah.

This is not an entry-level drilling position. We are looking for an Operator who already understands HDD equipment, production, bore execution, equipment setup, maintenance, and safe underground utility construction.

The Drill Operator is expected to be one of the most experienced members of the crew and must be capable of safely operating high-value equipment while working closely with the Locator and field team.

What You'll Do

• Operate Vermeer HDD equipment, including models such as D10x15, D20x22, and D23x30.
• Perform pilot drilling, reaming, conduit/product pullback, and related HDD operations.
• Set up and stabilize the drill correctly for each bore.
• Adjust rotation, thrust/pullback, drilling speed, fluid mixture, and tooling based on soil conditions.
• Work with the Locator to maintain proper pitch, depth, direction, and bore trajectory.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to cobble, hard ground, tooling issues, stuck tooling, fluid issues, and changing subsurface conditions.
• Complete daily equipment inspections and preventative maintenance.
• Diagnose basic mechanical problems and identify equipment issues before they create extended downtime.
• Maintain drilling-fluid systems and properly prepare equipment for cold-weather operations.
• Load, unload, secure, tow, and transport drilling equipment and trailers as required.
• Maintain production while never compromising utility safety.
• Verify that potholing and utility exposure have been completed where required before drilling proceeds.
• Follow all company, project, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Work as part of the crew and assist with field needs when required.
• Travel throughout Utah based on project assignments.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of hands-on HDD drill-operation experience.
• Valid CDL.
• Demonstrated experience operating directional drilling equipment.
• Strong knowledge of bore setup, drilling, reaming, and pullback.
• Experience working directly with a Locator.
• Knowledge of soil conditions, drilling fluids, tooling, and bore adjustments.
• Ability to perform daily inspections and basic troubleshooting.
• Strong safety record and understanding of underground utility hazards.
• Performance-driven and team-oriented mindset.
• Willingness to travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of HDD operating experience.
• Direct experience with Vermeer directional drilling equipment.
• Experience transporting drilling equipment and trailers.
• Strong mechanical aptitude.
• Experience with telecommunications conduit installation.
• Experience on government, federal, or prevailing-wage infrastructure projects.

Compensation & Benefits

• 35-45 per hour depending on experience.
• Weekly pay.
• Overtime opportunities.
• Performance and annual bonus opportunities.
• Potential sign-on bonus for highly qualified candidates.
• Employee referral bonus program.
• Project-completion bonus opportunities.
• Prevailing-wage projects when applicable.
• Paid time off based on eligibility.
• Per diem, lodging, or travel support when applicable.
• Technical, safety, OSHA, and manufacturer training opportunities.
• Company vehicle access when appropriate.
• Tool support/replacement program.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Operator knows how to produce footage without creating unnecessary risk.

You should be capable of setting up the drill correctly, working closely with your Locator, recognizing changing ground conditions, protecting expensive equipment, minimizing downtime, and making safe production decisions without needing basic HDD training.

Safety, teamwork, productivity, equipment care, and accountability are equally important.

About SNAM Communications

SNAM Communications Inc. is a telecommunications infrastructure construction company supporting underground and aerial network projects. Our underground teams install conduit and telecommunications infrastructure using horizontal directional drilling and related construction methods. Learn more at https://snamcomm.com/.

Snam Communications Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.