Job Title: Journeyman Rigger
Company: Loenbro, LLC
Business Unit/Department: Loenbro West
Location: Lead, SD
Reports to: Superintendent / Project Manager
Employment Type: Full-time
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
About Loenbro
Loenbro is a trusted, long-term construction lifecycle partner to thousands of customers across the U.S. Our market spans all industries, and our service offerings include Critical Electrical, Mechanical & Structural, Soft Crafts, Inspection, Underground Maintenance and Installation, and Fabrication. Our expertise lies in simplifying the complex and establishing long-standing relationships with our partners. We have a national presence but a local approach—every customer benefits from our capabilities and our care.
At Loenbro, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers grounded in integrity, teamwork, excellence, and purpose. Join a team where your expertise is valued, your growth is supported, and your work helps maintain and enhance the critical infrastructure that powers communities across the nation.
Job Summary
Loenbro is seeking an experienced Journeyman Rigger to support the LBNF/DUNE-US South Dakota Rigging Services at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. This multi-shift underground role supports cryostat and infrastructure installation in the North and South Caverns. The Lead Rigger provides daily on-site supervision while working as a productive member of the crew, communicates daily with the FFDG representative, maintains schedule adherence, upholds employee conduct and competence standards, and administers disciplinary action when required.
The successful candidate will have a solid background in rigging, erecting, and modifying structural steel in an industrial construction setting. Your leadership skills and your experience have earned you the ability to direct the work of others and make quick decisions. You must be well-organized and favor safety above everything else.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Coordinates and supervises daily activities of crew while working as a productive member of that crew.
- Communicate daily with the FFDG representative regarding schedule status, operational concerns, and crew performance.
- Visually inspect and test rigging materials to ensure safety and reliability.
- Select appropriate gear such as cables, pulleys, vices, winches, etc., according to load weights and sizes, work area, and job specifications.
- Ensure all lifts comply with DOE-STD-1090-2020, ASME B30 series, and project-specific lift plans.
- Maintain satisfactory standards of employee conduct, integrity, and competence.
- leading or participating in daily JHAs / toolbox talks and exercising stop-work authority.
- Initiate and administer disciplinary action regarding deficiencies; support removal of personnel when requested in writing by FFDG.
- Be aware of obstacles, surrounding structures, barriers or objects and the location of other people.
- Signal or verbally communicate with workers and others engaged in hoisting, suspending, and moving loads to ensure the safety of workers and materials.
- Dismantle, inspect, clean, organize and store rigging equipment after use.
- Supervise and train workers.
- Guarantee all safety precautions and quality standards are followed.
- Ensure crew PPE compliance (Type II hard hat with chin strap, Level IV cut-resistant gloves, reflective clothing, steel-toe boots, self-rescuer, and 4-gas monitor when acting as Guide).
- Support two-shift (day/night) and six-day work schedules as required by the installation sequence.
Minimum Qualifications
Required:
- NCCER Basic Rigger certification – mandatory.
- 5+ years’ experience in industrial or heavy-lift rigging experience.
- Successfully complete all required FFDG training, including LBNF/DUNE Guide Training for Crew Leads, Site Orientations, and Practical Factors.
- Able to manage team members and multiple projects.
- Knowledge of reading and interpreting sketches, blueprints, and detailed drawings
- Coordinate tasks according to priorities and plans.
- Ensure labor and resources are adequate.
- Must pass a background check and do a drug screening.
Preferred:
- Capable of performing physically demanding tasks during long shifts.
- Skilled in math, which includes adding and subtracting fractions.
- Prior experience at DOE sites, underground mines, or similar high-hazard environments.
- Fall Protection Competent Person, MEWP, First Aid/CPR certifications.
- Previous Lead or Foreman experience on multi-shift industrial projects.
- Must have a valid driver's license.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed primarily underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD, within the North and South Caverns (approximately 4,850' below surface). Two-shift (day and night) and six-day schedules are anticipated. Company-identifiable attire with logo is always required on SURF property. Compliance with all FFDG, DOE, and Loenbro ES&H requirements is mandatory.
Work Environment:
- Potential exposure to extreme cold and hot temperatures.
- Working in underground conditions,
- Fit and move in confined spaces, including tanks and vessels.
- Limited working surfaces.
- Exposure to noise above 85 decibels and intense odors.
- Exposure to areas with limited visibility.
This role requires compliance with all applicable safety regulations, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and Loenbro's Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) policies.
Benefits
Loenbro offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and rewards to those who join our team:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off (PTO) and holiday pay.
- Life and disability insurance
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
Benefits eligibility may vary based on employment classification and hours worked.
Guided by Core Values (LEAD), grounded in grit and a commitment to excellence, Loenbro betters our families, customers, and local communities. If you are ready to be part of a company that LEADS by:
- Living with Integrity
- Exceeding Expectations
- Acting with Urgency
- Delivering Excellence
…we want to hear from you.
Loenbro is an Equal Opportunity Employer