Production Heavy Equipment & Rigging Specialist

Position Summary

We are seeking a Production Heavy Equipment & Rigging Specialist to join our manufacturing team. Reporting to the Production Supervisor, this role supports day-to-day manufacturing operations with a focus on safe material handling, industrial lifting, rigging, equipment movement, and production support.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Follow applicable safety procedures, codes, standards, and company guidelines.
• Support daily manufacturing operations, including production builds, equipment movement, material handling, staging, inspection, testing, and documentation.
• Operate manufacturing tools and equipment to perform assembly operations.
• Operate or support forklifts, pallet jacks, ergonomic lift-assist devices, hoists, cranes, rigging equipment, and other industrial material-handling equipment.
• Perform rigging, signaling, load securement, and lift-support activities for machinery, oversized components, production materials, and shipping containers.
• Plan, stage, and execute equipment moves by identifying lifting points, rigging methods, travel paths, hazards, and exclusion zones.
• Inspect rigging, lifting accessories, equipment, and material-handling tools before use and escalate concerns immediately.
• Train and mentor operators and technicians on safe equipment operation, load handling, rigging practices, material movement procedures, and job-site safety expectations.
• Support loading, rigging, blocking, bracing, and securement of Antora modules and large equipment onto lowboy trailers for transport.
• Identify and escalate non-conformances, quality issues, equipment concerns, transport securement concerns, or safety risks to the appropriate support team.
• Participate in continuous improvement efforts to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and repeatability.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.

Key Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent work experience, including military experience.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, industrial production, construction, port, logistics, heavy equipment, or equivalent military environment.
• Experience operating industrial lifting, material-handling, or heavy equipment in a production or field environment.
• Experience with rigging, signaling, load securement, lift planning, and safe movement of machinery, oversized loads, or shipping containers.
• Experience working around cranes, hoists, forklifts, pallet jacks, lift-assist devices, and other material-handling equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to train or mentor operators and technicians on safe equipment operation, rigging practices, load handling, and material movement procedures.
• Strong understanding of heavy equipment safety, lifting operations, exclusion zones, load paths, and job-site hazard controls.
• Experience supporting transport preparation, including rigging, loading, blocking, bracing, and securing large equipment or oversized loads onto trailers.
• Able to lift at least 40 lbs and work with heavy equipment, tools, supplies, and production materials.
• Able to work around fixed equipment and machinery, including using lifts, ladders, and scaffolding.
• Must wear and work in required personal protective equipment.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Additional Qualifications

• Desired experience operating Combilift Hydraulic Straddle Carrier and Shuttlelift Gantry Crane handling loads ranging from 5 to 75 tons in a manufacturing or industrial production environment.
• Experience developing, supporting, or following lift plans, rigging plans, job hazard analyses, cargo securement plans, or equipment movement procedures.
• Experience training or mentoring operators, technicians, or production personnel on safe equipment operation, rigging, signaling, load handling, transport securement, and lift planning.
• Ability to utilize ladders or other high structures to work at heights of ten feet or higher.
• Familiarity with cargo securement expectations for oversized loads, lowboy trailer transport, chains, binders, blocking, bracing, and working load limits.