Underground Utility PipelayerJob Overview

SiteWork Services is seeking an experienced Underground Utility Pipelayer with hands-on knowledge of commercial and heavy-civil utility construction. This position is specifically for candidates who understand the installation of underground domestic water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and underground fire-line systems.

The successful candidate must understand trench preparation, pipe bedding, grades, elevations, pipe alignment, joint assembly, fittings, structures, backfill requirements, and safe excavation practices. This is not a general laborer position. Applicants must have previous underground utility pipe-installation experience and be able to work productively with foremen, equipment operators, and other crew members.

Primary Responsibilities

Install underground domestic water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and fire-line piping according to approved plans and specifications.
Read and understand civil utility plans, profiles, details, cut sheets, stationing, slopes, and invert elevations.
Work with the foreman to establish and maintain the correct pipe grade, alignment, elevation, and depth.
Use pipe lasers, grade rods, laser levels, string lines, and other grade-control equipment.
Check trench bottoms and pipe bedding before installation.
Direct the equipment operator while excavating trenches, lowering pipe, placing bedding, and backfilling around installed utilities.
Safely guide pipe and structures into position using approved hand signals.
Measure, cut, bevel, clean, lubricate, align, and assemble pipe.
Properly install gaskets and ensure pipe joints are fully seated and connected.
Inspect pipe, fittings, gaskets, valves, and structures for damage or defects before installation.
Verify pipe size, material, class, pressure rating, and fitting type before installation.
Install pipe at the proper slope and maintain the required flow line and invert elevation.
Confirm that each section of installed pipe remains properly aligned and on grade.
Install fittings, valves, fire hydrants, cleanouts, services, restraints, and other utility appurtenances.
Assist with installing manholes, inlets, catch basins, junction boxes, meter boxes, valve boxes, and related structures.
Make service connections, lateral connections, taps, tie-ins, and utility crossings as directed.
Install restrained joints, mechanical joints, thrust blocks, concrete encasement, tracer wire, detectable tape, and pipe markers when required.
Protect existing utilities during excavation and installation.
Assist with potholing and exposing existing utilities before mechanical excavation.
Keep dirt, mud, rocks, groundwater, and construction debris out of installed piping.
Properly cap, plug, or cover open pipe at the end of each shift.
Assist with pipe testing, flushing, chlorination, mandrel testing, leakage testing, and inspections.
Place and compact bedding, shading, and initial backfill without damaging or moving installed piping.
Maintain tools, pipe lasers, pumps, compactors, rigging, and other pipe-installation equipment.
Keep the work area, trench, and material-storage areas clean and organized.
Immediately report damaged materials, incorrect elevations, unsafe trench conditions, utility conflicts, and plan discrepancies to the foreman.
Follow all company safety policies, OSHA requirements, and project-specific procedures.

Underground Utility Experience

Applicants must have practical experience installing several or all of the following:

Domestic and Public Water

PVC and C900 water mains
Copper, polyethylene, and PVC water services
Mechanical-joint fittings and restraints
Gate valves, tapping sleeves, valve boxes, and meter boxes
Domestic water meters and backflow assemblies
Water-main taps, tie-ins, and service connections
Thrust blocking and restrained-joint systems
Tracer wire and detectable warning tape
Hydrostatic testing, flushing, and chlorination

Sanitary Sewer

PVC sanitary sewer mains and service laterals
Gravity sewer piping installed to required slope and invert
Sanitary manholes, cleanouts, and service connections
Wyes, tees, bends, adapters, and transition couplings
Existing manhole connections and sewer taps
Pipe-laser setup and grade verification
Mandrel, air, leakage, and deflection testing

Storm Drainage

PVC, HDPE, RCP, and other storm-drainage piping
Storm manholes, inlets, catch basins, junction boxes, and area drains
Flared-end sections and headwalls
Graded storm piping and structure connections
Concrete collars, encasement, and flow-channel construction
Large-diameter pipe installation and rigging

Underground Fire Lines

C900 and approved underground fire-main piping
Fire hydrant assemblies
Fire-line valves and valve boxes
Fire department connection piping
Backflow-prevention assemblies
Mechanical-joint fittings and restraints
Thrust blocks and restrained-joint systems
Hydrostatic testing and flushing

Required Skills and Qualifications

Previous underground utility pipelayer experience is required.
Strong knowledge of water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, or underground fire-line installation.
Ability to read and understand civil utility plans, profiles, details, and cut sheets.
Ability to understand elevations, slopes, grades, depths, flow lines, and pipe inverts.
Experience using pipe lasers, laser levels, grade rods, string lines, and measuring tools.
Ability to properly prepare pipe bedding and maintain pipe alignment and grade.
Knowledge of PVC, C900, ductile iron, HDPE, RCP, copper, and related pipe materials.
Knowledge of gasketed, mechanical-joint, restrained, solvent-welded, fused, and coupled pipe connections.
Ability to safely use hand tools, power tools, compactors, pumps, saws, and pipe-installation equipment.
Ability to guide equipment operators using clear and approved hand signals.
Knowledge of basic rigging practices for lowering pipe, fittings, and structures.
Understanding of OSHA excavation and trench-safety requirements.
Ability to work safely inside protected trenches and around active heavy equipment.
Ability to follow directions and work productively as part of a utility crew.
Ability to communicate clearly with the foreman, equipment operator, inspectors, and other crew members.
Dependable transportation and reliable attendance.
Ability to pass applicable drug-screening and background requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

Three or more years of underground utility pipelayer experience.
Experience installing municipal and private commercial utility systems.
OSHA 10-hour Construction certification.
Excavation and trench-safety training.
Confined-space-entry training.
Experience operating compactors, skid steers, loaders, or excavators.
Valid driver’s license or Commercial Driver’s License.
Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.

Safety Requirements

Follow OSHA excavation, trenching, shoring, sloping, and trench-box requirements.
Never enter a trench that has not been inspected and approved by the designated Competent Person.
Use ladders and approved access points when entering or exiting trenches.
Wear all required personal protective equipment.
Stay clear of suspended loads and equipment swing areas.
Use proper lifting, rigging, and material-handling practices.
Protect existing underground and overhead utilities.
Participate in daily safety meetings and pre-task planning.
Immediately report unsafe conditions, damaged utilities, near misses, and injuries.
Stop work when unsafe conditions or unexpected utilities are encountered.

Physical Requirements

Ability to repeatedly lift and carry pipe, fittings, tools, and materials weighing up to 75 pounds.
Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, kneel, and work inside properly protected trenches.
Ability to work around mud, water, dust, noise, traffic, and active construction equipment.
Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, and other changing weather conditions.
Ability to work extended hours and weekends when required by the project schedule.
Ability to travel to jobsites throughout the assigned service area.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for experienced pipelayers who understand underground utilities—not applicants whose experience is limited to general construction labor. The successful candidate must know how to prepare the trench, verify bedding, assemble pipe, maintain alignment and elevation, install fittings and structures, and protect the completed system during backfilling.

The right candidate will be dependable, safety-minded, productive, and committed to installing underground utilities correctly the first time.

Pay: $27.81 - $33.50 per hour

Work Location: In person

Sitework Services LLC

Latest Jobs

Pipe Layer