Underground Construction Operator

Aquila Corporation; Evansville (IN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Holidays

Travel Reimbursement

Job summary

Aquila Corporation in Indiana is seeking an experienced Underground Construction Operator to safely operate directional drilling equipment on underground fiber projects. This hands-on role covers daily maintenance, transport, cleaning, and supporting crews to keep projects moving.

The ideal candidate will have 1–3 years in construction or equipment operation, a valid driver’s license, and willingness to travel and work weekends or nights as project needs require.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of construction, equipment operation, or similar field experience.
• Valid driver’s license required and ability to meet company driving requirements.
• Ability to travel and work weekends, nights, overnight assignments, or on-call hours as project needs require.

Responsibilities

• Safely and efficiently operate directional drills and HDD equipment.
• Perform daily maintenance, cleaning, and basic inspections of the drill rig, drill truck, company vehicles, and assigned tools.
• Load and haul the bore rig and truck as required for project assignments.
• Assist the locator with creating the daily bore plan, establishing the bore path, and spotting/potholing for safe passage of bore tooling.
• Assist with utility spotting, duct and fiber placement, equipment setup, and setting underground structures as needed.
• Maintain accurate daily production forms, project activity reports, and other required work documentation.
• Follow OSHA, NESC, Aquila safety requirements, and applicable traffic regulations while operating equipment and completing assigned work.
• Support construction crews with physical labor, traffic control, vehicle inventory, housekeeping, and other duties as assigned.

Skills

Safety-focused

Field operations

Equipment operation

Physical stamina

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Directional drilling equipment

Drill truck

Job description

Career Opportunities with Aquila Corporation

A great place to work.

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Employment Status: Full-Time
Location: Indiana
Travel: Travel required based on project needs

• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Travel Reimbursement

Join the Aquila Team!

Aquila Corporation is looking for an experienced, safety-focused Underground Construction Operator to support our underground fiber construction operations.

This is a hands-on field position responsible for the safe and efficient operation of directional drilling equipment, along with daily maintenance, transport, cleaning, and support of underground construction crews.

If you have underground construction experience, understand safe equipment operation, and take pride in helping crews complete projects efficiently, we want to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Safely and efficiently operate directional drills and HDD equipment.
• Perform daily maintenance, cleaning, and basic inspections of the drill rig, drill truck, company vehicles, and assigned tools.
• Load and haul the bore rig and truck as required for project assignments.
• Assist the locator with creating the daily bore plan, establishing the bore path, and spotting/potholing for the safe passage of bore tooling.
• Assist with utility spotting, duct and fiber placement, equipment setup, and setting underground structures as needed.
• Maintain accurate daily production forms, project activity reports, and other required work documentation.
• Follow OSHA, NESC, Aquila safety requirements, and applicable traffic regulations while operating equipment and completing assigned work.
• Support construction crews with physical labor, traffic control, vehicle inventory, housekeeping, and other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1-3 years of construction, equipment operation, or similar field experience.
• Valid driver's license required and ability to meet Company driving requirements.
• Basic understanding of construction principles and the ability to follow directions.
• Ability to safely operate manual and mechanical equipment necessary to complete assigned work.
• Ability to work outdoors and perform physically demanding construction work, including lifting.
• Ability to travel and work weekends, nights, overnight assignments, or on-call hours when project needs require it.
• Willingness to cross-train as a drill locator and continue developing knowledge of fiber optic OSP/ISP construction standards, materials, techniques, and equipment.

Additional Experience We Value

• Directional Drilling / HDD Experience
• Underground Fiber Construction or Conduit Installation
• OSHA or CPR Certification
• CDL License or Experience

Why Aquila?

At Aquila, our underground crews play a critical role in building reliable fiber infrastructure. You'll work with experienced field professionals, operate specialized equipment, and help keep underground construction projects moving safely and efficiently.

We're looking for operators who work safely, support their crew, care for their equipment, and take pride in getting the job done right.

Aquila Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.