Lead Field Operator – Wells, Drilling & Pumping

About Terranova

Terranova builds robotic systems that lift land, restore wetlands, and protect critical infrastructure from flooding and sea-level rise.

We are hiring an experienced operator to run our equipment safely and reliably at active job sites. This is a hands-on field position based in Berkeley, California, with regular travel to deployment sites.

The Role

This is not an office, engineering, or equipment-design position. Most of your work will involve operating, transporting, setting up, maintaining, and repairing equipment in the field.

We are specifically looking for a well-rounded oilfield operator with experience across drilling, well construction, workover, cementing, injection, or pressure-pumping operations. You should understand how an entire wellsite operates rather than having experience limited to one narrow specialty.

Experience progressing through multiple rig or well-service roles—such as floorhand, motorhand, derrickhand, driller, toolpusher, workover operator, or well-service operator—is strongly preferred.

You should be comfortable working outdoors, getting dirty, performing physical work, and troubleshooting equipment when something breaks. Practical field experience is more important than a college degree.

Responsibilities

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• Operate Terranova’s drilling, pumping, injection, robotic, and support equipment
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• Support borehole drilling, stabilization, injection, and pressure-pumping operations
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• Monitor pressure, flow, equipment performance, and changing subsurface conditions
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• Recognize and respond to borehole instability, lost circulation, pressure changes, equipment failures, and other field issues
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• Rig up, inspect, operate, and break down pumps, hoses, valves, fittings, generators, and pressurized systems
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• Load, secure, transport, stage, and unload equipment, tools, parts, and materials
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• Operate or support skid steers, loaders, forklifts, trailers, pumps, and similar machinery
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• Perform equipment inspections, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and field repairs
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• Diagnose mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and controls-related failures
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• Maintain safe, clean, and organized job sites, vehicles, trailers, and equipment
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• Document operating conditions, equipment issues, repairs, and lessons learned
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• Provide practical field feedback to improve Terranova’s equipment and procedures

Required Experience

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At least three years of hands-on oilfield, drilling, well-service, workover, cementing, completion, injection, or pressure-pumping experience

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Experience across multiple parts of wellsite operations rather than one narrow specialty

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Working knowledge of drilling fluids, borehole stability, lost circulation, casing, cementing, pumps, pressure lines, valves, and hydraulics

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Experience rigging up and breaking down field equipment

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Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing physical equipment

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Strong mechanical aptitude and practical field judgment

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Ability to safely use hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic equipment

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Ability to perform physically demanding work outdoors in changing conditions

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Willingness to work weekends, travel, and stay overnight when required

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Valid driver’s license and safe driving record

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U.S. permanent residency

Experience as a driller, toolpusher, workover-rig operator, well-service operator, or senior rig hand with exposure to both drilling and pressure-pumping operations is strongly preferred. A college degree is not required.

Schedule

This is a five-day-per-week position, but it is not a Monday–Friday schedule. Workweeks may include weekends, and schedules may change during field deployments. Occasional sixth days, travel, and overnight stays may be required.