HDD Team Lead / Crew Foreman

Texas — Full-Time | Travel Required | Per Diem Paid

Kingfisher Recruiting has been hired by a Horizontal Drilling company to source Team Leads for underground utility and infrastructure projects throughout Texas.

This is a hands-on field leadership position responsible for safely directing a 4–5-person horizontal directional drilling crew. The Team Lead must understand every crew position and be capable of operating the drill or locating when needed.

Note: This role is for horizontal directional drilling for underground utility and infrastructure projects. It is not an oil or gas well drilling position.

Responsibilities

• Plan daily work and assign crew responsibilities.
• Conduct daily safety meetings and job safety analyses.
• Lead rig setup, bore operations, reaming, pullback, and rig moves.
• Read construction drawings and develop bore plans.
• Verify utility locates, clearances, entry and exit angles, and cover requirements.
• Select appropriate tooling, reamers, swivels, subs, and mud systems.
• Maintain production without compromising safety or quality.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate crew members.
• Coordinate equipment, tooling, materials, and preventative maintenance.
• Communicate with customers, project managers, and field management.
• Complete daily reports, timesheets, inspections, and material inventories.
• Document delays, equipment problems, safety concerns, and jobsite issues.
• Stop unsafe work and enforce company SOPs, PPE requirements, and environmental procedures.

Required Qualifications

• At least 3 years of horizontal directional drilling experience.
• Previous experience leading or supervising an HDD crew.
• Ability to independently operate an HDD drill and locate a bore.
• Experience with bore planning, utility crossings, drilling fluids, tooling selection, and hole-cleaning procedures.
• Working knowledge of dirt and rock drilling, pilot bores, reaming, and pullback operations.
• Ability to troubleshoot lost returns, pressure problems, steering issues, stuck tooling, poor penetration, and mechanical failures.
• Valid driver's license and at least 21 years of age.
• Willingness to travel, work overtime, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug/alcohol screening.
• Strong safety record and professional leadership style.

Preferred Experience

• Two or more years supervising HDD crews.
• Vermeer D100x140 or comparable 100-class rig experience.
• Rock drilling and mud-motor operation.
• Large-diameter or long-distance crossings.
• Highway, railroad, wetland, or environmentally sensitive crossings.
• Inadvertent-return prevention and response.
• DigiTrak or Underground Magnetics locating systems.
• CDL, PEC SafeLand, H2S, or TWIC credentials.

Compensation and Benefits

• $34-40/hour
• Paid per diem for travel
• Weekly pay
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance after 60 days
• Employer-paid life insurance after 60 days
• 401(k)
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation after the first year