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 for you. This position is full‑time, year‑round, with a few weeks travel required for training.

Pay & Benefits

• Pay ranges from $22.62 to $41.42 per hour based on skills, qualifications, experience, location, and role-specific competencies.
• $5,000 sign‑on bonus (payout terms apply).
• May qualify for relocation assistance.
• Up to $75 per week in incentives when your team meets production targets.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and 401(k) plan.
• Generous vacation, paid sick leave, seven paid national holidays, and one floating holiday.
• Paid parental leave (6 weeks after 12 months of employment).
• Adoption and surrogacy assistance.
• Employee assistance and wellness programs.
• Short-term and long-term disability (for associates working 30+ hours per week).
• TDS service discounts.
• Education assistance.
• Paid volunteer time.
• Associate Resource Groups for community and professional development.

What You'll Do

• 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.
• Aid in transporting construction equipment to and from the worksite.
• Assist with and execute the installation of aerial and buried fiber based on maps, staking sheets, and locate markings.
• Operate hand tools, cable locators, and testing equipment as needed.
• Install and set enclosures, including buried and aerial vaults, pedestals, and handholes.
• Climb poles, ladders, towers, and other structures as required.
• Label and mark fiber optic and copper facilities accurately.
• Utilize dispatching applications and relevant tools for project coordination.
• Restore landscapes to original condition upon project completion.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Flexible, full‑time year‑round schedule.
• Hands‑on, outdoor work building real infrastructure that matters.
• Work with a company that has 50+ years of telecom experience and a strong reputation for fiber innovation.
• Training includes CDL training for qualified associates, safety training, pole climbing, bucket truck operation, fiber optic basics (fusion splicing, fault detection, OTDR), and construction equipment operation (drill rigs, trenchers, mini excavators). Training duration varies: 3 weeks for underground teams, with an additional 1 week for aerial training.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ months experience in any combination of: customer service, electrical or utility construction, OR technical certification (or higher), OR current military service, or prior military service with honorable discharge.
• Must follow TDS attendance guidelines to meet business and customer 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 preferred at hire; TDS offers in-house CDL certification program after hire).
• Upon hire, must successfully pass all components of the Safety Training course curriculum.
• Upon hire, must successfully complete customer-specific requirements, which may include a background check administered by the customer.
• Must be willing to work overtime as needed.
• May be required to work various/swing shifts as business needs dictate.
• Must be able to operate vehicles with manual transmissions.

Other Qualifications

• Horizontal directional drilling experience preferred.
• Basic understanding of telecommunication products and services.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• May require occasional travel.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• 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.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.