Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs
Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are open across construction, mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure, from entry-level to crew lead and foreman, with specializations in excavation, grading, and crane operation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator – Demolition
Company: Gipp Solutions LLC
Location: Suffolk, VA | Hampton Roads & Surrounding Areas
Pay: $24.00–$30.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications
Employment Type: Project-Based | Opportunity for Full-Time Employment
About Gipp Solutions LLC
Gipp Solutions LLC is a growing residential demolition contractor based in Suffolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads and surrounding communities.
We specialize in residential structural demolition, mobile home removal, garage and shed demolition, concrete and foundation removal, swimming pool demolition, brush clearing, and grading.
As we expand our field operations, we are seeking a highly dependable, safety-conscious, and experienced Heavy Equipment Operator who takes pride in operating equipment efficiently, maintaining a productive jobsite, and delivering quality workmanship.
This is NOT an entry-level position. Candidates must possess verifiable professional heavy equipment operating experience.
Position Overview
The Heavy Equipment Operator is responsible for safely and efficiently operating excavators, mini excavators, skid steers, and various demolition attachments on residential demolition and sitework projects.
The ideal candidate demonstrates excellent equipment control, strong situational awareness, sound judgment, and the ability to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
We are seeking an operator who understands that safety, productivity, equipment care, professionalism, and reliability are equally important.
Key Responsibilities
Heavy Equipment Operation
- Safely and efficiently operate excavators, mini excavators, skid steers, and related equipment.
- Perform residential structural demolition, concrete removal, foundation removal, excavation, debris loading, and rough grading.
- Operate hydraulic thumbs, grapples, breakers, buckets, and other demolition attachments.
- Demonstrate precise equipment control when working near structures, utilities, property boundaries, and other obstacles.
- Properly position equipment and maintain stable operating conditions.
- Load debris efficiently into dumpsters and trucks while observing equipment and container limitations.
- Follow established demolition sequences, project plans, and supervisor instructions.
Equipment Inspection & Maintenance
- Conduct documented pre-operation and post-operation equipment inspections.
- Check fluid levels, tracks, hydraulic components, attachments, and safety systems.
- Immediately report mechanical issues, damage, leaks, or unsafe operating conditions.
- Properly secure equipment at the end of each shift.
- Maintain company-owned and rented equipment in good working condition.
- Prevent avoidable equipment damage through responsible operation.
Jobsite Safety & Productivity
- Follow OSHA requirements, company safety procedures, and site-specific safety plans.
- Maintain awareness of overhead hazards, underground utilities, unstable structures, and nearby personnel.
- Recognize unsafe conditions and stop operations when necessary.
- Maintain consistent productivity without compromising safety or workmanship.
- Communicate unexpected site conditions, project delays, or equipment concerns promptly.
- Assist with jobsite setup, debris management, and cleanup when necessary.
- Cooperate with field supervisors, laborers, subcontractors, and other project personnel.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years of verifiable professional heavy equipment operating experience.
- Demonstrated proficiency operating excavators and mini excavators.
- Strong knowledge of equipment operating procedures, inspections, and safety practices.
- Ability to perform assigned work efficiently with limited supervision.
- Ability to recognize jobsite hazards and make safe operating decisions.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- Reliable transportation to designated reporting locations.
- Strong attendance, punctuality, communication, and professionalism.
- Willingness to travel between project locations throughout Hampton Roads and surrounding areas.
- Ability to perform physical construction-related duties as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Residential or structural demolition experience.
- Experience operating skid steers and various demolition attachments.
- Experience with concrete demolition, excavation, debris handling, and rough grading.
- OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification.
- Formal heavy equipment operator training or certifications.
- Experience working near occupied properties, existing utilities, and structures that must remain undamaged.
Mandatory Pre-Employment Requirements
Gipp Solutions LLC maintains strict standards for operator qualifications, safety, and equipment operation.
Candidates selected for further consideration must successfully complete the following:
1. Practical Equipment Operating Assessment
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to safely and proficiently operate designated equipment during a supervised, hands-on practical evaluation.
The assessment may include:
- Pre-operation equipment inspections.
- Excavator controls and machine positioning.
- Bucket control, digging, and material handling.
- Safe debris loading and placement.
- Equipment stability and hazard awareness.
- Proper operating techniques and shutdown procedures.
Candidates must demonstrate satisfactory performance and safe operating practices before being authorized to operate equipment independently.
2. Pre-Employment Drug Screening
Candidates must successfully complete a company-required pre-employment drug screening in accordance with applicable federal and Virginia laws and company policy.
3. Experience & Reference Verification
Candidates may be required to provide professional references and verify previous operating experience.
Successful completion of all applicable pre-employment requirements is mandatory before independent field assignments.
Employee Performance Expectations
Safety: Follow all safety requirements, identify hazards, and protect coworkers, customers, and surrounding property.
Productivity: Maintain an efficient work pace, minimize unnecessary downtime, and complete assigned tasks according to established project expectations.
Equipment Care: Inspect, operate, maintain, and secure equipment responsibly. Immediately report damage or mechanical concerns.
Dependability: Report to scheduled assignments on time, prepared to work, and maintain consistent attendance.
Professionalism: Demonstrate respect toward customers, coworkers, supervisors, vendors, and surrounding property owners.
Teamwork: Follow supervisory direction, communicate effectively, and assist with general jobsite responsibilities when necessary.
Accountability: Take responsibility for assigned duties, follow company procedures, and promptly communicate problems or concerns.
Work Schedule & Employment Structure
- Project-based hourly employment.
- Work assignments scheduled according to active demolition projects.
- Typical reporting time between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM.
- Work locations throughout Hampton Roads and surrounding communities.
- Weekly hours may vary based on project availability and requirements.
- A 40-hour workweek is not guaranteed.
- Opportunities for continued assignments and potential full-time employment as the company expands.
Compensation & Growth Opportunities
Starting Pay: $24.00–$30.00 per hour
Compensation is determined by experience, demonstrated equipment proficiency, qualifications, and operating ability.
Gipp Solutions LLC is committed to developing a dependable, professional field team. Strong-performing employees may be considered for continued employment, additional training, expanded responsibilities, and future advancement opportunities.
Why Join Gipp Solutions?
We are building a company focused on professionalism, accountability, safety, and quality workmanship.
We value experienced tradespeople who take pride in their work, respect equipment, communicate effectively, and consistently deliver results.
This is an opportunity to become part of a growing demolition company and contribute to the development of a strong, reliable field operations team.
If you are an experienced heavy equipment operator who values safety, reliability, and professional workmanship, we encourage you to apply.
Gipp Solutions LLC
Not Flocking Around.
Pay: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Experience:
- Heavy equipment operation: 3 years (Required)
- Excavator operation: 3 years (Required)
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Hampton Roads, VA (Required)
Work Location: On the road
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Find Heavy Equipment Operator JobsHeavy Equipment Operator Job Market
Who's Hiring
- WM35
- Republic Services34
- State of South Carolina13
- MasTec12
- GREGORY CONSTRUCTION12
Top Industries Hiring
- Waste Management & Environmental Services14
- Chemicals & Materials8
- Technology & Software6
- Mining & Natural Resources4
- Manufacturing3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in heavy equipment operator jobs.
- Two or more years of verifiable experience operating excavators, dozers, or loaders
- Valid commercial driver's license, Class A or Class B depending on equipment transported
- OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 construction safety certification
- Ability to read grading stakes, blueprints, and site survey markings
- Physical ability to work outdoors in variable weather and on uneven terrain
- High school diploma or GED with completion of an apprenticeship or vocational operator program
Tips for Your Heavy Equipment Operator Job Search
List every machine you can operate
Employers scan for specific equipment names before reading anything else. List each machine by its full name and model family, such as Caterpillar 320 excavator or Komatsu D61 dozer, so your application clears keyword filters without a recruiter opening it.
Get your CDL and OSHA card current
Many postings require a valid commercial driver's license and current OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification. Renew both before you apply so you never have to explain an expired credential in an interview, which often ends the conversation immediately.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists heavy equipment operator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by project type not company size
Road paving, site prep, and earthmoving projects each demand different machine hours and experience. Search by project type rather than employer name so your application matches the actual day-to-day work, which operators are always asked about in interviews.
Bring documentation to every interview
Bring your operator logbook, training certificates, and any safety records to your interview. Supervisors hiring for union or prevailing-wage projects will check hours on specific machines, and candidates who can hand over paperwork on the spot move faster through approval.
Negotiate shift differential before accepting
Night, weekend, and remote-site shifts often carry a pay differential that is not listed in the posting. Ask about it directly in your final conversation before you accept, because many operators leave that money on the table by not raising it.
Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most heavy equipment operators?
WM, Republic Services, and State of South Carolina are hiring the most heavy equipment operators right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, North Carolina, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Activity shifts frequently with infrastructure project timelines, so checking current listings gives you the most accurate picture.
How many heavy equipment operator jobs are remote?
About 2% of heavy equipment operator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most of the role requires physical presence on a job site. The sub-areas with the most remote or hybrid flexibility tend to be project management, estimating, and dispatch coordination roles that sit adjacent to field operations.
How do you become a heavy equipment operator?
Start by completing a formal training program through a union apprenticeship, community college, or vocational school that puts you in the seat on real machines. After training, obtain your OSHA safety certification and a commercial driver's license if you plan to haul equipment. Build documented hours on specific machines, since employers verify experience by equipment type, and apply to entry-level site positions to accumulate field time under a licensed foreman.
How do you get hired as a heavy equipment operator with little experience?
Start by targeting ground-crew or laborer roles on active construction sites, where supervisors can see your work ethic before putting you in a cab. Enroll in a union apprenticeship or a vocational operator program that includes real seat time, because employers care far more about certified machine hours than a resume full of general construction experience. Even a short operator course with a certificate moves your application past the automatic screen.
What does the heavy equipment operator interview process look like?
Most interviews open with a supervisor reviewing your machine hours and asking you to walk through a specific project where you operated the equipment in question. A practical skills test or a brief ride-along on the job site is common, particularly for union or government-funded projects. Safety record and incident history come up in nearly every conversation, and employers often check references with former foremen rather than HR contacts.
Where can I find and apply to heavy equipment operator jobs?
You can find and apply to heavy equipment operator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your machine experience and project type, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 990+ Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs
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