The Growing Demand for Skilled Heavy Equipment Technicians

Skilled heavy equipment mechanics are the unsung heroes of modern infrastructure: they are responsible for building roads, powering hospitals, and other vital parts of modern living.

However, despite the demand for equipment expertise, there is a clear technician gap in the market. In the manufacturing industry alone, there is a 43% gap between job openings and hires since January 2020. This imbalance indicates that technicians are looking for companies that value a high-demand career with competitive hourly rates and quality benefits.

If you're one of these skilled technicians, Peterson Cat is where your expertise meets its rightful match. 

Why the Demand for Skilled Technicians Is High

The skilled trade sector is booming with new job openings left and right. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% growth for heavy equipment technician jobs from 2024 to 2034, a figure higher than the average for all occupations. This translates to around 21,700 openings each year on average. But what drives this massive opportunity and demand for skilled labor?

It mostly lies in federal and state infrastructure needs. In 2024, public spending on roads, highways, and streets totaled $143 billion U.S. dollars, making it one of the largest segments of public infrastructure spending. With an abundance of infrastructure projects, the need for earthmoving equipment technicians is evident. Power systems technicians also face the same abundance of opportunities as data centers expand for AI and renewable energy integration.

Then, there is also the retiring workforce whose jobs need to be filled. These employment vacuums are perfect opportunities that you, as a new technician, can fill quickly as long as you have the experience and expertise.

Earthmoving vs. Power Systems

At Peterson Cat, both earthmoving technicians and power systems technicians do meaningful work that delivers tangible results. However, it's still worth noting the distinction between the two to know where your skills are better suited.

Earthmoving Technician

Earthmoving equipment technicians focus on diagnosing and servicing heavy machinery, such as excavators, dozers, and loaders. Their job is to ensure these machines are always in great condition and prevent downtime caused by unexpected issues. Running diagnostics on heavy equipment and repairing diesel engines are part of their day-to-day tasks.

As a field service technician, you will be expected to fulfill the following primary responsibilities:

• Deliver solutions by traveling extensively to our customers' facilities
• Write comprehensive technical reports for the team and client
• Lead emergency repairs, including full-scale rebuilds and replacement
• Perform service with a focus on speed and operational efficiency

Power Generation Technician

Power generation technicians are responsible for servicing, diagnosing, and repairing Cat® engines, power generation gear, and related electrical accessories. Power generation technicians have exceptional mechanical skills to ensure their customers' power generation equipment operates at peak performance.

Power field technicians travel extensively to perform on-site service, installations, and repairs. They need to be flexible in attending to clients across the country. If you're interested in a career as a power generation technician at Peterson Cat, some of your responsibilities might include:

• Installation and startup of Cat generators and engines
• Repair, rebuild, and replacement of complex systems in Cat and non-Cat equipment for various applications
• Documentation for service work to keep records accurate and up to date
• Collaboration and support for other technicians across different projects and customers

While this looks different from the responsibilities of earthmoving equipment technicians, the core objective of both roles remains the same — to build and maintain stable infrastructure and systems that people can rely on.

Why Choose Peterson Cat as Your Next Employer?

Working with Peterson Cat means you get to see how your work creates real change for businesses and individuals. It also means working with a company that prioritizes your personal and professional success.

Thus, if your experience in machinery and complex systems aligns with our needs, you'll be offered best-in-class benefits, such as:

• Competitive hourly wages
• Flexible healthcare with your choice of HMO or PPO
• 24/7 year-round telehealth services
• Full preventive care
• Comprehensive dental and eye care
• Pre-tax premium plan
• Immediate 401(k) matching 
• Fully sponsored long-term disability 

Aside from our extensive benefits, we also offer the following perks that prioritize work-life balance and lifelong learning:

• Continuous learning through Peterson University and manufacturer training programs
• Company-paid holidays
• Paid time off, personal leave, and bereavement
• Tool and equipment insurance

How to Start Your Peterson Cat Journey

With Peterson Cat, you're not only working to build your future, but also the future of others through tangible impact. If you believe that your skills are a perfect fit for what we're looking for, start your Peterson Cat journey by following these simple steps:

Explore Our Roles

To begin your journey with us, visit our official careers page to find roles such as power field technician and diesel technician jobs that align best with your passion and expertise. On our career page, you can filter by company, location, and job family to further refine your search.

Apply With a Few Clicks

Once you've found the role that matches your skills, simply read the full job description and click apply. As our application process is designed for both mobile and desktop, you can complete your application in minutes. You can autofill our forms with your resume, apply via LinkedIn, or manually update the required fields. Our hiring process is fast, so you can expect someone from our team to reach out to you promptly after you apply.

Make a Tangible Impact With Peterson Cat

Be a part of a team where your work matters for the infrastructure and future of the people around you. If you're looking for a career as a heavy equipment field technician or power field technician, apply at Peterson Cat now!