---
title: 'Heavy Equipment Operator at Mariana Minerals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/heavy-equipment-operator-mariana-minerals-moab-w99073r350x8'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-25'
---

# Heavy Equipment Operator at Mariana Minerals

- **Company:** Mariana Minerals
- **Location:** Moab, UT
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-25
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals/e7893b77-d33f-4778-806e-d5c56ecaff86

## 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. Mariana Minerals is looking for skilled Heavy Equipment Operators to join our team. We need versatile operators who can run a range of heavy equipment loaders, dozers, graders, and more — and move wherever the crew needs them. If you take pride in your work and like the variety of running different machines, this role is for you. We're also building toward something big: becoming the world's first fully autonomous mine. It's a chance to grow your skills while being part of where the industry is headed. 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 efficiently, keeping production steady while minimizing downtime, fuel use, and wear on the machine
- 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
- Follow all MSHA, OSHA, and company safety procedures (including lockout/tagout and traffic rules), actively participate in safety meetings, and immediately report hazards, near misses, or equipment damage while ensuring operations meet environmental/regulatory standards

Required Qualifications & Experience:

- Proven experience operating multiple types of heavy equipment (loaders, dozers, graders, excavators, water trucks, drill rigs, etc.) and are comfortable moving between machines as needed
- Experience operating heavy equipment in a mining, quarry, construction, or similar industrial setting highly preferred.
- MSHA Part 46 or Part 48 certification (or willingness to obtain prior to start)
- Strong mechanical aptitude and basic troubleshooting skills
- Ability to read and interpret basic operational instructions, safety data sheets, and equipment gauges
- Valid driver's license

Working Environment and Schedule:

- Schedule: 7 days on / 7 days off, 12-hour shifts. As operations expand, schedules will rotate between day and night shifts, with availability for on-call coverage as needed.
- Housing & Relocation: Housing and relocation assistance options available

Physical Requirements

- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds
- Able to sit for extended periods (up to full shift length) while operating machinery
- Manual dexterity and coordination for operating controls, levers, and pedals
- Adequate visual acuity, depth perception, and hearing (with correction/aids if needed) to safely operate equipment
- Ability to work in all weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, and tolerate exposure to fumes, dust, diesel, solvents, sulfuric acid, and other hazardous materials
- Must wear and utilize all required PPE

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

- [Process Maintenance Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/process-maintenance-technician-mariana-minerals-moab-h4wmd57ef2t8) — Moab, UT
- [Lab Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/lab-technician-mariana-minerals-moab-j9mq8czpvnzm) — Moab, UT
- [Machine Learning Engineering Manager, Chemistry & Process Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-engineering-manager-chemistry-process-engineering-mariana-rm8c5twqhdxt) — San Francisco, CA
- [Machine Learning Engineering Manager, Industrial Autonomy & Applied ML](https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-engineering-manager-industrial-autonomy-applied-ml-mariana-7j0rykenk6tb) — San Francisco, CA
- [Technical Product Manager, ML & Robotics](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-product-manager-ml-robotics-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-rrrs3mbyrag8) — San Francisco, CA
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- [Business Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/business-operations-manager-mariana-minerals-houston-myprr7myf8hr) — Houston, TX
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