---
title: 'Equipment Operator at Mariana Minerals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/equipment-operator-mariana-minerals-moab-myw71k0nt8cs'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Equipment Operator at Mariana Minerals

- **Company:** Mariana Minerals
- **Location:** Moab, UT
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals/8440bc79-d5ee-40f9-9bab-8fef700966f5

## Job description

## About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Position Summary: The Heavy Equipment Operator plays a critical operational role in supporting mine production through the safe and efficient operation of mobile heavy equipment, including loaders, dozers, excavators, graders, water trucks, and drill rigs. This position is responsible for conducting equipment inspections, maintaining safe working conditions, contributing to production targets, supporting operational and maintenance teams, and ensuring compliance with MSHA standards and company procedures. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong situational awareness, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to work effectively in a dynamic mining environment. Housing can be provided onsite.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Operational Responsibilities

- Safely operate heavy equipment including loaders, bulldozers, excavators, graders, water trucks, and blasthole drill rigs.
- Work across all mine areas as needed, including active pits, dumps, haul roads, and process areas.
- Operate equipment in a manner that maximizes productivity while minimizing downtime, fuel use, and equipment wear.
- Perform and document accurate pre‑shift and post‑shift inspections on all assigned equipment.
- Conduct ground support tasks such as shoveling, spotting, barricading, and general labor when required.
- Assist maintenance personnel by communicating equipment issues, supporting troubleshooting, and performing basic servicing.
- Maintain clean, safe, and organized operating areas.

Safety & Compliance

- Always follow MSHA, OSHA, and company safety procedures, including lockout/tagout, hazard reporting, and traffic rules.
- Demonstrate strong hazard recognition skills and actively participate in daily safety meetings.
- Ensure equipment operation and ground activities comply with environmental and regulatory expectations.
- Report unsafe conditions, equipment damage, and near misses immediately.

Collaboration & Communication

- Communicate effectively with supervisors, maintenance, and fellow operators.
- Provide clear shift handover notes to ensure continuity between crews.
- Participate in task training for new operators and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

- Ability to learn and apply federal, state, local, and company safety and environmental regulations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Willingness to perform manual labor as needed.
- Flexibility to train on additional equipment and roles.
- Compliance with all company policies and procedures.
- MSHA Surface Miner Training preferred.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.
- Must possess or be able to obtain a valid driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

- Ability to walk long distances over rough, uneven terrain and climb ladders and structures.
- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
- Ability to work in all weather conditions, including extreme temperatures.
- Must wear and utilize all required PPE.
- Must be able to work in environments that may include exposure to fumes, dust, diesel, solvents, sulphuric acid, and other hazardous materials.

Our culture is built on four principles:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people. Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions. Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale. Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!

## About Mariana Minerals

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company focused on supplying the minerals critical to modern energy, AI, and defense technologies.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A, $85M funding in July 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Turner Caldwell (Co-Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Metal Ore Mining / Critical Minerals
- **Target customers**: B2B – energy, AI, and defense supply chains (including downstream manufacturers and government entities)
- **Mission or purpose**: "Create a future of critical mineral abundance" by reimagining the global minerals supply chain with software, automation, and data-driven decision making.

## Products & Services
- **Copper One (formerly Lisbon Valley Copper Mine)**: World’s first autonomous mine, located in Utah. Produces copper using integrated automation and software control. Restarted production in April 2026.
- **Lithium One**: Lithium project (on the roadmap or early development).
- **Other mineral projects**: Graphite, Uranium, Rare Earth Metals, Cobalt, Nickel, Aluminium – at various stages (stealth or roadmap).
- **CapitalProjectOS**: Internal software platform for capital project management (mentioned in leadership bio).
- **Technology Stack**: React, dbt, TypeScript, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, microservices, SCADA, Autodesk, and many others – indicating a strong software engineering backbone.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – $85M Series A (July 2025, 1 investor)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lead investor not publicly disclosed (Andreessen Horowitz was pitched but not confirmed as an investor). Partners include Bot Auto, WeRide, Pronto, Atoms (based on LinkedIn mentions). Also works with UMA (Utah Mining Association).
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 3,575% YoY to 107 employees (as of mid-2026). 73 active job postings. Opened the world’s first autonomous mine (Copper One) in April/May 2026, generating significant industry news and social media engagement.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Software-first approach**: The company builds automation and data systems from the ground up, rather than layering tech onto legacy mining operations. This enables fully autonomous mining.
- **Vertical integration**: They develop, own, and operate mineral projects, controlling the entire value chain from extraction to processing.
- **Deep tech stack**: Use of AI/ML (TensorFlow, PyTorch), simulation, and real-time control systems to optimize mining operations.
- **First-mover in autonomous mining**: Copper One is claimed to be the world’s first autonomous mine, giving them a significant lead in operational efficiency and safety.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale autonomous mining operations beyond copper (lithium, graphite, uranium, etc.)
- Secure domestic supply of critical minerals for U.S. energy, AI, and defense needs.
- Continue aggressive hiring across engineering, operations, and field roles.
- Expand from Utah to additional sites (Houston engineering office, potential new projects).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture principles**: "Extreme Ownership", "Engineer Out Requirements, Then Automate", "Share Your Legos" – emphasizing accountability, simplification, and collaboration.
- **Work environment**: High-growth startup with a mission-driven focus on critical infrastructure. Offices in San Francisco (HQ), Houston (Engineering), and La Sal, Utah (mine site). Hybrid/remote policy not explicitly stated, but multiple office locations suggest flexibility for field vs. office roles.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI in a traditional industry. Strong engineering culture with modern tech stack (React, Python, ML). Rapid career growth due to company expansion.
- **Talent sources**: Attracts talent from Tesla, Redwood Materials, Lilac, ExxonMobil, Amazon Web Services, and other tech/energy companies – indicating a high-caliber peer group.

## Sources
1. [marianaminerals.com](https://marianaminerals.com/)
2. [marianaminerals.com/careers](https://marianaminerals.com/careers)
3. [marianaminerals.com/about](https://marianaminerals.com/about)
4. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals)
5. [linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals)

## Other roles at Mariana Minerals

- [Sr./Staff Process Engineer - Detailed Engineering and Plant Design](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-staff-process-engineer-detailed-engineering-and-plant-design-mariana-m9xewg6hdcc5) — Houston, TX
- [Industrial Electrician](https://feeny.ai/job/industrial-electrician-mariana-minerals-moab-snerjqgb4qbh) — Moab, UT
- [Sr. Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-technical-recruiter-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-hr9b2676c4vw) — San Francisco, CA
- [R&D Metallurgist](https://feeny.ai/job/r-d-metallurgist-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-2y0a92fe9ese) — San Francisco, CA
- [Maintenance Mechanic](https://feeny.ai/job/maintenance-mechanic-mariana-minerals-moab-bc9jcgbeg61b) — Moab, UT
- [Process Maintenance Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/process-maintenance-technician-mariana-minerals-moab-c6pyeb53jmef) — Moab, UT
- [Mobile Maintenance Supervisor](https://feeny.ai/job/mobile-maintenance-supervisor-mariana-minerals-moab-0zyyzma9tm1n) — Moab, UT
- [Sr./Staff Pyrometallurgical Process Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-staff-pyrometallurgical-process-engineer-mariana-minerals-houston-dpv5c9qyznbb) — Houston, TX
- [Electrician](https://feeny.ai/job/electrician-mariana-minerals-east-50vs2farzxq5) — East, TX
- [Staff Process Controls Engineer - Networking and Systems Administration](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-process-controls-engineer-networking-and-systems-administration-mariana-yysg2twzjx6r) — San Francisco, CA