Plant Operator

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.; Santa Margarita (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) with match

Paid holidays

Job summary

Martin Marietta is seeking a Plant Operator to safely and efficiently produce Hot Mix Asphalt and Warm Mix Asphalt, operating a computerized plant control system and regulating the flow of materials.

You will perform preventive and corrective maintenance, ensure QC and DOT specifications are met, and uphold the Guardian Angel safety culture to maximize uptime and minimize injuries.

Qualifications

• OSHA compliance and regulations.
• EPA knowledge and regulatory awareness.
• Technical aptitude for plant systems and controls.
• Mechanical aptitude for maintenance tasks.
• Experience with asphalt plants and mix designs.
• Attention to detail in quality and logs.
• Strong time management and prioritization.
• Clear written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate automated plant control systems to monitor material flow, temperatures and mixing times.
• Blend aggregates with asphalt cement according to mix designs.
• Load asphalt into haul trucks ensuring weights comply with limits.
• Monitor stock and coordinate with loaders to keep plant fed.
• Perform maintenance on conveyors, dryers, screens and elevators.
• Use cutting tools for structural repairs as needed.
• Troubleshoot electrical, hydraulic and mechanical issues to minimize downtime.
• Maintain clean, safe facilities and document inspections and logs.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA and EPA dust and emissions controls.

Skills

OSHA compliance

EPA

Technical aptitude

Mechanical aptitude

Asphalt plant knowledge

Detail oriented

Time management

Effective communicator

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Plant Operator is responsible for the safe, efficient, and high-quality production of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA). This role involves operating a computerized plant control system to regulate the flow of raw materials into the mixing process.

The Operator is expected to possess advanced troubleshooting skills, perform preventative and corrective maintenance on stationary equipment, and ensure all mixes meet strict Quality Control (QC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications. This individual acts as a key steward of Martin Marietta’s Guardian Angel safety culture, ensuring a zero-injury environment while maximizing production uptime.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Operate automated plant control systems to monitor and adjust the flow of materials, temperatures, and mixing times.
• Ensure the precise blending of aggregates and liquid asphalt cement according to specific mix designs provided by Quality Control.
• Oversee the loading of asphalt into haul trucks, ensuring correct weights, legal load limits, and efficient traffic flow within the yard.
• Monitor levels of liquid AC (asphalt cement), fuel, and aggregate stockpiles; coordinate with the Loader Operator to ensure the plant remains fed.
• Perform advanced maintenance on conveyors, baghouses, drum dryers, screens, and elevator systems. This includes replacing bearings, adjusting belts, and repairing liners.
• Utilize arc welders and cutting torches to perform structural repairs and equipment modifications as needed.
• Identify and troubleshoot electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical malfunctions to minimize plant downtime during peak production hours.
• Maintain a clean and orderly facility, including the control house, yard, and equipment areas, to prevent safety hazards and environmental spills.
• Conduct comprehensive pre-shift and post-shift inspections of the plant and mobile equipment (skid steers, loaders, water trucks) and document findings.
• Ensure strict compliance with OSHA, and EPA regulations, specifically regarding dust control, emissions, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Proactively identify and mitigate workplace hazards; participate in safety meetings
• Maintain accurate daily production logs, maintenance records, and fuel/oil usage reports via company software
• Assist in the training and development of Laborers, sharing technical knowledge of plant systems.
• Function as the primary point of contact between the plant, the QC lab, and the dispatch office to ensure customer orders are completed accurately and timely.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

High school diploma, GED, or relevant experience

Work Experience

1+ years of experience in Asphalt Plant Operations or a Heavy Industrial Manufacturing environment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• OSHA compliance and regulations
• EPA
• Technical aptitude
• Mechanical aptitude
• Asphalt plant knowledge
• Detail oriented
• Time management
• Effective communicator (written and spoken)

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. for plant maintenance and equipment servicing.
• Required to bend, stoop, climb, and reach. You must be able to maintain three points of contact when climbing on/off machinery or on ladders.
• Strong hand-eye-foot coordination is essential for operating hand/foot controls. You must have good depth perception with or without seeing aid for distances up to 150 feet.

Working Conditions

All duties require outside assignments and require periods of work in all weather conditions, cold, wet, dry and dusty. Must be able to work in areas where noise levels are up to 85 dbs.

The hiring range for this position is $34.00 -$39.00 exclusive of benefits or bonuses (discretionary and non-discretionary). The offered base compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, business need, market conditions, proficiencies, skills, education, and experience. Additionally, at Martin Marietta we place a high value on internal pay equity and will consider the compensation for those in similarly situated roles and direct team members. The hiring range for this role represents the base compensation we expect to pay for the position at time of hire and does not represent the total possible base pay of the position.

In addition to our base compensation, we also offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including medical, dental and vision coverage; prescription drug coverage; health savings accounts; flexible spending accounts; life, AD&D and disability insurance; 401(k) with a company match and an employer-funded defined benefit pension plan. Other benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, education/tuition assistance, an employee discount program, adoption assistance, wellness programs and more.

Part time employees are eligible to participate in the 401k plan and receive a company match. In addition, they are eligible to start accruing service for the pension plan.

A member of the S&P 500 Index, Martin Marietta is an American-based company and a leading supplier of heavy building materials – including aggregates, cement, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt. Through a network of operations spanning 28 states, Canada and the Bahamas, dedicated Martin Marietta teams supply the foundational resources upon which our communities thrive. Martin Marietta'sMagnesia Specialtiesbusiness produces high-purity magnesia and dolomitic lime products used worldwide in environmental, industrial, agricultural and specialty applications.

At Martin Marietta, we strive to work with the best and the brightest – those who have the potential to become our company's future leaders. Each of our roughly 9,500 people shares a common purpose regardless of their professional role or work environment. Together, we utilize our diverse skills and experiences to drive our company and its extraordinary culture forward. Our aim is to build on our foundation of success and help values-driven and hardworking people realize their full potential. When you decide to invest your career in Martin Marietta, you'll know what it's like to be respected, challenged and rewarded.

In return, we offer a highly competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical
• Prescription Drug
• Vision
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Paid Holidays and Vacation
• 401(k) with Company matching
• Pension
• Salary Continuation – Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability Options
• Employee Life Insurance
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Direct Deposit Payroll
• Educational/Tuition Assistance Plan
• Matching Gift Program
• New Auto Purchase Discount Plans

At Martin Marietta, we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants and teammates. We celebrate diversity and commit that qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.