Equipment Operator

Job Title:
Equipment Operator

Job Description

The Equipment Operator will work in the yard operating a variety of heavy equipment, including mobile cranes, magnet cranes, mobile shears, and stationary shears, to process scrap materials safely and efficiently. This role focuses on loading and unloading scrap from trucks and railcars, moving material within the yard, and ensuring all equipment operates reliably through regular inspection and maintenance.

• Operate mobile cranes, magnet cranes, mobile shears, and stationary shears to process scrap materials in the yard.
• Load and unload scrap from customer trucks and railcars using the magnet crane and other yard equipment.
• Move scrap materials within the yard using appropriate mobile equipment such as loaders, dozers, and other heavy machinery.
• Follow all yard‑specific safety, environmental, and routine operating procedures at all times.
• Inspect and document the condition of the mobile shear, magnet crane, and stationary shear on a daily basis.
• Perform daily maintenance on equipment, including lubrication, greasing, fueling, and cleaning the cab.
• Check scrap materials for proper grade and identify safety concerns such as tanks, cylinders, or other hazardous items before and during shearing.
• Shear unprepared material to the required size, thickness, and dimensions according to specifications.
• Assist with yard housekeeping to maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Support co‑workers with daily operations to promote safety, efficiency, and profitability.
• Provide input on operational issues and help solve problems as they arise.

• Proven experience operating heavy equipment in an industrial, construction, or scrap yard environment.
• Hands‑on experience with mobile cranes, magnet cranes, shears, excavators, backhoes, loaders, or similar heavy machinery.
• Ability to safely operate mobile equipment to move scrap materials within a yard setting.
• Strong awareness of safety practices, including identifying hazards such as tanks and cylinders in scrap materials.
• Capability to perform daily inspections and basic maintenance on heavy equipment, including lubrication, greasing, fueling, and cab cleaning.
• Physical ability to work outdoors and perform general labor tasks in a scrap yard environment.
• Reliability to work a consistent daytime schedule, Monday through Friday.

• Experience operating excavators, backhoes, loaders, dozers, forklifts, skid steers, front‑end loaders, track hoes, or similar equipment.
• Background in construction, excavation, or general heavy equipment operation.
• Comfort working with scrap materials and understanding of material grading is beneficial.
• Willingness to take initiative, support team members, and contribute ideas for improving safety and efficiency.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a yard operations team.

Employees enjoy a close‑knit and friendly culture at a smaller facility where teamwork and long‑term relationships are valued. The organization is known for taking care of its employees, with many team members building careers that span over a decade. Compensation is designed to be very competitive in the market, supporting stability and long‑term growth.

This position is based outdoors in a scrap yard environment, where conditions can be dirty and physically demanding. The role involves regular exposure to weather elements and working around heavy equipment and scrap materials. Standard hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a one‑hour lunch break; yard scales are shut down from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during lunch. The work relies on the use of mobile cranes, magnet cranes, mobile and stationary shears, excavators, backhoes, loaders, dozers, forklifts, skid steers, front‑end loaders, and track hoes, along with standard yard tools and equipment.

This is a Permanent position based out of Fargo, ND.

The pay range for this position is $25.33 - $25.33/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of…