Job Description

Job Location: Kemmerer, WY 83101, Mako Industries is seeking experienced underground utility construction laborers to support the installation of approximately 14 miles of fiber-optic cable using a Caterpillar D6 dozer equipped with a cable plow and front-mounted cable reel.

Ground crew personnel will assist with cable handling, reel monitoring, installation support, crossings, excavations, and general field activities to ensure safe and efficient installation.

The work will be performed along an existing pipeline ROW in Wyoming, potentially under winter weather and restricted daylight working conditions.

Primary Responsibilities

Cable Handling & Plow Support

• Assist the D6 operator during fiber-optic cable plowing operations.
• Monitor cable payout from the front-mounted reel to ensure smooth, controlled feeding.
• Watch for cable binding, excessive tension, twisting, or damage.
• Assist with cable positioning, routing, and handling at crossings and excavations.
• Maintain proper cable bend radius and handling practices.
• Support cable reel changes, staging, and equipment repositioning.
• Maintain safe separation from moving equipment, reels, cable pinch points, and plowing operations.

Crossings, Tie-Ins & Excavations

• Assist with cable installation around pipeline crossings, bores, and unfinished excavations.
• Perform approved hand excavation and cable placement where mechanical plowing is not practical.
• Assist with cable slack management at designated splice-box and termination locations.
• Install temporary cable protection where required.
• Support installation of pull boxes, splice enclosures, and associated materials as directed.
• Coordinate with the operator and field supervision to identify obstructions or incomplete work areas.

Quality & Installation Support

• Assist in verifying cable placement and burial depth as directed.
• Identify and report potential cable damage or installation defects.
• Support fiber-optic testing personnel with cable access and preparation.
• Maintain daily installation records, material usage, and progress documentation.
• Assist with site cleanup and restoration activities.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Follow all Mako, Saulsbury, ExxonMobil, and BLM safety requirements.
• Participate in daily job safety analyses and toolbox meetings.
• Maintain situational awareness around operating equipment and underground utilities.
• Follow approved excavation, line-of-fire, and equipment exclusion-zone procedures.
• Work safely in winter weather, freezing temperatures, snow, and uneven terrain.
• Report unsafe conditions, equipment problems, and potential environmental impacts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of construction labor experience, preferably in underground utilities, pipeline construction, or telecommunications.
• Experience working around heavy equipment, cable plows, or trenching operations.
• Familiarity with basic underground utility installation practices.
• Ability to safely handle cable reels, rigging, and construction materials.
• Understanding of safe excavation practices and underground utility hazards.
• Ability to follow instructions and communicate effectively with equipment operators and supervisors.
• Willingness to work extended hours and travel to remote project locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous fiber-optic cable installation experience.
• Pipeline ROW construction experience.
• Experience with cable reel handling and payout operations.
• Familiarity with underground utility crossings and hand excavation.
• Experience working in cold-weather construction environments.
• OSHA 10 or equivalent construction safety training.

Physical & Working Conditions

• Outdoor work in remote Wyoming conditions.
• Extended periods of walking, standing, and working on uneven ground.
• Manual handling of tools, cable, and construction materials within approved lifting limits.
• Exposure to freezing temperatures, snow, wind, and mud.
• Ability to work safely around moving heavy equipment and active construction operations.

Performance Expectations

Ground crew personnel will be expected to support continuous plowing operations by maintaining controlled cable payout, preparing work areas, identifying potential installation hazards, and minimizing avoidable interruptions.

Priority: Maintain a safe, efficient cable installation operation while protecting the fiber from damage and supporting daily production objectives.