Horizontal Directional Driller - Fiber Construction

Overview

Ready to roll up your sleeves and bring cutting‑edge fiber technology to life? As part of our Horizontal Directional Drilling Team, you'll be at the heart of building and maintaining our state‑of‑the‑art PON/fiber network. If you have experience with horizontal directional drilling or locating for the drill and want to be based close to home, this role is full‑time, year‑round, with a few weeks of travel for training.

• Operate horizontal directional drill or locate for the drill.
• Restore job sites and keep accurate project labels and markings.
• Support fiber splicing and repair activities.
• Climb poles, ladders, and structures; operate bucket trucks as needed.
• Install, maintain, test, and repair buried and aerial fiber lines.
• Operate construction equipment such as trenchers, plows, excavators, and locators.
• Set pedestals, vaults, handholes, and other outside plant infrastructure.
• Conduct general construction tasks in various weather conditions, adhering to safety standards.
• Aids in transporting construction equipment to and from the worksite.
• Assists with and executes the installation of aerial and buried fiber based on maps, staking sheets, and locate markings.
• Operates hand tools, cable locators, and testing equipment as needed.
• Installs and sets enclosures, including buried and aerial vaults, pedestals, and handholes.
• Climbs poles, ladders, towers, and other structures as required, utilizing a bucket truck when necessary.
• Labels and marks fiber optic and copper facilities accurately.
• Utilizes dispatching applications and relevant tools for project coordination.
• Supports fiber splicing, repairs, and outside plant maintenance activities.
• Restores landscapes to original condition upon project completion.

• 6+ months experience in customer service, electrical or utility construction, technical certification (or higher), current military service, or prior military service with honorable discharge.
• Must follow TDS attendance guidelines to meet business needs.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and remain eligible for DOT requirements.

• Must have the ability to obtain a Class A CDL. Current CDL is preferred at hire; TDS will train and certify eligible associates.
• Physical requirements:
  
  ability to climb poles, ladders, towers; kneel, dig, lift, and pull.
• Upon hire, must pass all components of the Safety Training course curriculum.
• Upon hire, may need to complete customer‑specific requirements, including a background check.
• Horizontal directional drilling experience preferred.
• Basic understanding of telecommunication products and services.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to multi‑task.
• May require occasional travel.
• Must be willing to work overtime and varied shifts as business needs dictate.
• Must be able to operate vehicles with manual transmissions.

• CDL training for qualified associates.
• Safety training, pole climbing, bucket truck operation.
• Fiber optic basics: fusion splicing, fault detection, OTDR.
• Construction equipment operation (drill rigs, trenchers, mini excavators).

The duration of training varies based on the team assignment. Training for underground teams is 3 weeks, with an additional 1 week required for aerial training.

This role involves frequent physical activity, including standing, walking, kneeling, climbing, and lifting up to 50 pounds regularly (occasionally over 100 pounds). Vision requirements include close, distance, color, and depth perception. Work conditions often include outdoor weather, attics, crawl spaces, and high‑risk areas like high voltage zones, trenches, and manholes. Exposure to heavy equipment, fumes, vibration, extreme temperatures, and loud noise is common.

Associates scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week have access to:

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Generous Vacation & Paid Sick Leave
• Seven Paid National Holidays & One Floating Holiday
• Paid Parental Leave (6 weeks after 12 months of employment)
• Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs

Associates working 30 or more hours per week…