Lead Field Operator – Wells, Drilling & Pumping

Terranova, Inc.; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Terranova, Inc. in Berkeley, California is seeking an experienced field operator to run and maintain Terranova’s drilling and support equipment at active job sites.

This hands-on role focuses on operating, transporting, setting up, maintaining, and repairing equipment in the field, with regular travel to deployment sites. Prior oilfield experience across drilling, well construction, workover, cementing, or pressure-pumping is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• Three+ years hands-on oilfield drilling or well-service experience.
• Experience across multiple parts of wellsite operations.
• Working knowledge of drilling fluids, borehole stability, and cementing.
• Experience rigging up and breaking down field equipment.
• Ability to operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and practical field judgment.
• Ability to perform physically demanding outdoor work.
• Willingness to travel, work weekends, and stay overnight.

Responsibilities

• Operate drilling, pumping, injection, robotic, and support equipment.
• Load, transport, stage, and unload equipment and materials.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and repair field equipment.
• Monitor pressure, flow, and equipment performance.
• Maintain safe, clean, and organized job sites.
• Document operating conditions and repairs.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Physical stamina

Tool use

Field judgment

Diagnostics

Job description

About Terranova

Terranova builds robotic systems that lift land, restore wetlands, and protect critical infrastructure from flooding and sea-level rise.

We are hiring an experienced operator to run our equipment safely and reliably at active job sites. This is a hands-on field position based in Berkeley, California, with regular travel to deployment sites.

The Role

This is not an office, engineering, or equipment-design position. Most of your work will involve operating, transporting, setting up, maintaining, and repairing equipment in the field.

We are specifically looking for a well-rounded oilfield operator with experience across drilling, well construction, workover, cementing, injection, or pressure-pumping operations. You should understand how an entire wellsite operates rather than having experience limited to one narrow specialty.

Experience progressing through multiple rig or well-service roles—such as floorhand, motorhand, derrickhand, driller, toolpusher, workover operator, or well-service operator is strongly preferred.

You should be comfortable working outdoors, getting dirty, performing physical work, and troubleshooting equipment when something breaks. Practical field experience is more important than a college degree.

Responsibilities

• Operate Terranova’s drilling, pumping, injection, robotic, and support equipment
• Support borehole drilling, stabilization, injection, and pressure-pumping operations
• Monitor pressure, flow, equipment performance, and changing subsurface conditions
• Recognize and respond to borehole instability, lost circulation, pressure changes, equipment failures, and other field issues
• Rig up, inspect, operate, and break down pumps, hoses, valves, fittings, generators, and pressurized systems
• Load, secure, transport, stage, and unload equipment, tools, parts, and materials
• Operate or support skid steers, loaders, forklifts, trailers, pumps, and similar machinery
• Perform equipment inspections, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and field repairs
• Diagnose mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and controls-related failures
• Maintain safe, clean, and organized job sites, vehicles, trailers, and equipment
• Document operating conditions, equipment issues, repairs, and lessons learned
• Provide practical field feedback to improve Terranova’s equipment and procedures

Required Experience

• At least three years of hands-on oilfield, drilling, well-service, workover, cementing, completion, injection, or pressure-pumping experience
• Experience across multiple parts of wellsite operations rather than one narrow specialty
• Working knowledge of drilling fluids, borehole stability, lost circulation, casing, cementing, pumps, pressure lines, valves, and hydraulics
• Experience rigging up and breaking down field equipment
• Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing physical equipment
• Strong mechanical aptitude and practical field judgment
• Ability to safely use hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic equipment
• Ability to perform physically demanding work outdoors in changing conditions
• Willingness to work weekends, travel, and stay overnight when required
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record
• U.S. permanent residency

Experience as a driller, toolpusher, workover-rig operator, well-service operator, or senior rig hand with exposure to both drilling and pressure-pumping operations is strongly preferred. A college degree is not required.

Schedule

This is a five-day-per-week position, but it is not a Monday–Friday schedule. Workweeks may include weekends, and schedules may change during field deployments. Occasional sixth days, travel, and overnight stays may be required.