Heavy Equipment Operator Lead

About the role

Amentum is hiring a Heavy Equipment Operator Lead who provides direct support to the Fleet Operations Foreman, Supervisor or Traverse Operations Manager. The role leads small teams of operators and coordinates daily tasking for them, covering projects such as loading cargo, fuel bladder filling and teaching Standard Operating Procedures. It is a working and operating lead position with physical labor, and includes occasional coordination with other ASC departments.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain a safe workplace and ensure safety is the highest priority
• Operate and oversee light vehicles and heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, backhoes, forklifts, snow blasters, dump trucks and snow grooming equipment
• Lead small groups of operators toward departmental goals under the guidance of a Foreman or Supervisor
• Perform daily equipment checks, track equipment hours and report maintenance needs to the Vehicle Maintenance Facility
• Ensure team members are trained and evaluated before using equipment unsupervised
• Complete work requests, attend meetings, write reports and help with performance evaluations
• Report spills, incidents and environmental health and safety issues promptly
• Read manufacturer manuals and comply with ASC safety, quality and environmental requirements
• Physical duties include heavy lifting, climbing in and out of equipment, crawling, working outdoors in extreme cold and snow shoveling and ice chipping
• SPOT positions: operate heavy equipment (grading, crane operation, snow removal, cargo loading/unloading, fueling bladders, runway construction), count and pack supplies, operate on assigned traverses to the South Pole for at least 50 days, learn ground-penetrating radar for crevasse detection, lubricate and inspect equipment, and arrange maintenance

Required profile

• High school diploma or GED
• Four years of experience as a heavy equipment operator
• SPOT positions require at least one previous season with MCM Fleet Operations or South Pole Traverse
• Valid US driver's license; US citizenship required for facility credentials at this location
• Medical, dental, drug screening and federal background check clearance
• Ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods
• Preferred: supervisory experience, Class A CDL, rigging certification, familiarity with Microsoft Office, and experience in austere, resource-limited environments