Heavy Equipment Operator – Sideboom

Role Overview

We are looking for a skilled Heavy Equipment Operator specialized in Sideboom operations to join our team for a full-time position in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This role involves maneuvering the sideboom to lift, hold, carry, and lower piping along the pipeline right-of-way, supporting various stages of pipeline construction such as stringing, welding, coating, and lowering-in operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate the sideboom machinery precisely according to the manufacturer’s load chart and the approved lifting plan.
• Maintain pipe alignment to support welding operations without causing shock loads.
• Coordinate and execute lowering of welded pipe strings into trenches in tandem with multiple machines.
• Carry out detailed pre-use inspections at the start of each shift, promptly reporting any equipment defects.
• Evaluate ground bearing capability and ensure stable positioning before machinery deployment.
• Follow signals given by the designated rigger under the supervision of the Pipeline Foreman and Lifting Supervisor.
• Contribute to the continuous progress of pipeline spread activities while ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols during lifting.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• At least five years of experience operating sidebooms or pipelayers in pipeline construction, with a minimum of two years working within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
• Proven operation experience on Caterpillar pipelayers (models 561, 572, 583, 587) or equivalent machinery, specifying the model used.
• Practical expertise in performing lowering-in and tandem/multi-machine lifts on active spreads.
• Ability to read and utilize load charts accurately for boom, counterweight, and radius configurations.
• Preferably approved as an operator by Saudi Aramco.
• Possession of a valid Saudi heavy vehicle or equipment operator’s driving license or readiness to obtain one upon mobilization.
• Medical Fitness certificate suitable for heavy equipment operation.
• H2S Familiarization, Basic Fire Fighting, and First Aid certification, or willingness to acquire during mobilization.
• Defensive Driving certification is advantageous.
• A valid passport with a minimum of six months remaining validity.
• Strong experience in pipeline construction activities such as stringing, welding support, lowering-in, tie-ins, and crossings.
• Competency in machine inspection, operator-level maintenance, consistent defect reporting, and maintaining daily operational logs.
• Ability to evaluate ground conditions including gradient and trench-edge proximity, ensuring safety when working near other machinery and teams.
• Fluency in functional English or Arabic adequate for interpreting safety communications and lift-plan instructions, including receiving hand and radio signals.
• Commitment to safety practices such as stop-work authority, strict exclusion zone enforcement, and consistent use of full personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Willingness to work extended shifts, six days per week, in remote camp-based settings along the pipeline right-of-way.
• Experience working on large-diameter cross-country transmission pipelines (24 inches and above) is highly preferred.
• Background in executing Saudi Aramco scope projects with major contractors is also highly desirable.