Heavy Equipment Operator | Olive Harvest | $40/hr +

Location: San Martin, CA (between Morgan Hill and Gilroy)

Pay: Starting at $40/hr, with additional pay for overnight shifts.
Schedule: Full time, temporary, multiple shifts available
Start: Immediately
Duration: Approximately 3–4 weeks, possibly longer

About the job

We're a small organic olive farm in San Martin looking for experienced equipment operators to help us finish our fall harvest. We're hiring immediately for a short term position, with the possibility of returning for future harvest seasons.

The job involves operating a specialized mechanical tree shaker mounted to an articulated tractor. The machine has a hydraulic arm with a clamp that grips the trunk of an olive tree and shakes the fruit loose. A large umbrella opens around the trunk to collect the olives as they fall.

The operator drives between trees, positions the tractor, and uses two joysticks and several additional controls to maneuver the shaker arm, align the clamp, and operate the collection system. The arm has several axes of movement, so there's quite a bit of coordination involved.

Our orchard is mature, with irregularly shaped trees and relatively tight spacing. Every tree is a little different. Getting the machine into the right position requires good spatial awareness, precise control, and patience. It's not particularly fast driving, but it is fairly demanding equipment operation.

We're especially interested in people with experience operating excavators, backhoes, skid steers, or other machinery with multiple hydraulic controls. Tractor work is a plus, but we are looking for experience with complex equipment, not just mowing/discing/seeding work. If you're comfortable working with complicated equipment in tight spaces, we think the skills will translate well.

You don't need previous agricultural experience. We'll train you on the machine.

What we're looking for:

• Professional experience operating excavators, backhoes, skid steers, or comparable ag equipment
• Good hand eye coordination and the ability to operate several controls simultaneously
• Strong spatial awareness and the patience to maneuver carefully around trees and obstacles
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to recognize when something isn't working correctly
• Someone dependable who can show up consistently for the duration of the harvest
• Willingness to learn a new machine and work outdoors
• Previous experience with agricultural harvesting equipment is welcome, but not required.

Schedule and compensation:

We're looking to hire two or three operators to cover multiple shifts. Our anticipated schedule is:

Day: 6 AM–2 PM

Evening: 2 PM–10 PM
Overnight: 10 PM–6 AM

We expect to run at least two shifts and may add a third depending on staffing and harvest progress.

Pay starts at $40 per hour, with additional pay for overnight work.

This is a temporary position expected to last approximately 3–4 weeks, possibly longer. We'd be happy to work with the right people again during future harvest seasons.

To apply, please send:

1) your resume,
2) your availability, including which days and shifts you can work, how soon you can start, and how long you're available, and
3) a brief note about your relevant equipment experience. We're particularly interested in what kinds of machines you've operated and the type of work you've done with them.

We're looking to get people started right away.