CNC Plate table, Beam line operator

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced CNC Structural Steel Machine Operator to join our fabrication team. This position is responsible for operating and setting up automated CNC machinery used in the fabrication of structural steel components. We are a proud union shop and this is a union position.

This is not a general CNC machining position. We are specifically looking for an individual with hands-on experience operating CNC structural steel fabrication equipment, such as beam lines, plate processing machines, CNC plasma systems, automated drilling equipment, and CNC saws.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working with large structural steel members and plate, reading shop drawings and CNC programs, setting up machines, verifying dimensions and cut locations, monitoring machine operation, and producing quality parts safely and efficiently.

Equipment

Our facility utilizes automated structural steel fabrication equipment, including:

• Voortman V310 CNC Plate Processing Table
• Voortman V610 Beam Line / CNC Saw
• Voortman V808 Beam Line / CNC Plasma
• CNC drilling and coping equipment
• Automated material handling systems
• Plasma cutting systems
• Structural steel saws

Experience with Voortman equipment or comparable structural steel fabrication machinery is highly preferred.

Important Experience Requirement

Applicants should have previous experience operating similar structural steel fabrication equipment.

Examples of relevant experience include:

• Structural steel beam lines
• CNC beam processing machines
• CNC plasma cutting tables used for structural steel
• CNC plate processing machines
• Automated beam saws
• CNC drilling machines for structural steel
• CNC coping equipment
• Automated structural steel fabrication lines
• Similar equipment manufactured by Peddinghaus, FICEP, Vernon Tool, Messer, Kaltenbach, or comparable manufacturers

Experience operating general-purpose CNC equipment such as Haas mills or lathes alone does not qualify as equivalent experience for this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Operate CNC structural steel fabrication equipment safely and efficiently.
• Set up machines for production runs, including tooling, consumables, material positioning, and machine parameters.
• Load and process structural steel plate, beams, and other structural shapes.
• Read and interpret shop drawings, piece marks, CNC files, and fabrication information.
• Verify material type, size, piece marks, dimensions, and orientation before processing.
• Monitor automated cutting, drilling, sawing, coping, and material handling operations.
• Perform dimensional and visual quality checks on completed parts.
• Identify cutting, drilling, programming, or machine-related problems and make appropriate adjustments.
• Recognize when a problem requires assistance from a supervisor, programmer, maintenance, or quality personnel.
• Perform routine machine inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and basic operator maintenance.
• Replace routine consumables such as plasma electrodes, nozzles, and other machine tooling as required.
• Maintain accurate production and quality documentation.
• Follow established CNC programs and company procedures.
• Communicate production issues, machine problems, and quality concerns to supervision.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Follow all company safety policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties related to structural steel fabrication as assigned.

QualificationsRequired

• Previous hands-on experience operating CNC machinery used in structural steel fabrication.
• Experience working with structural steel beams, plate, and other large steel components.
• Ability to read and understand structural steel shop drawings and piece marks.
• Ability to use a tape measure and other basic measuring tools accurately.
• Basic understanding of CNC machine operation and setup.
• Ability to identify dimensional or processing errors before material moves forward in production.
• Ability to work safely around large steel members, overhead cranes, forklifts, automated machinery, plasma cutting equipment, and other fabrication equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing quality work.

Preferred

• Experience operating Voortman structural steel equipment.
• Experience with Voortman V310, V610, V808, or similar machines.
• Experience with CNC plasma cutting.
• Experience with automated beam drilling and sawing.
• Experience with CNC coping.
• Experience interpreting CNC-generated fabrication information.
• Structural steel fabrication experience.
• Experience working in an AISC-certified fabrication environment.
• Previous experience performing basic machine troubleshooting and operator maintenance.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who understands that operating this equipment is more than simply pushing a button.

The ideal candidate understands structural steel fabrication, can recognize how a beam or plate should be processed, can verify that the machine is producing the correct part, and can identify problems before they result in scrap or rework.

We are looking for an experienced operator who can set up, operate, monitor, inspect, and troubleshoot automated structural steel fabrication equipment with minimal supervision.

If your CNC experience is primarily with Haas mills, CNC lathes, routers, or similar general machining equipment, this position may not be the right fit unless you also have experience with structural steel fabrication equipment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to work in a heavy industrial steel fabrication environment.
• Ability to lift and handle materials and equipment within safe operating limits.
• Ability to work around noise, dust, sparks, plasma cutting, welding, cranes, forklifts, and heavy equipment.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.
• Ability to work safely around large structural steel members and automated machinery.

Work Schedule

Day shift and night shift available.

Day shift 5:00AM-1:30PM. When OT is required till 3:30PM Monday through Friday with some Saturday's depending on work requirements.

Night Shift 1:30PM to 12:00AM Monday through Thursday with OT on Fridays as required by the work.

Safety & Quality

Safety and quality are fundamental requirements of this position. The CNC Machine Operator is expected to follow all company safety procedures, machine-specific operating procedures, quality requirements, and applicable OSHA regulations.

Employees are expected to stop and report unsafe conditions, equipment problems, or quality concerns rather than allowing defective or unsafe work to continue.

Experience Level

3+ years of relevant structural steel CNC machine operation experience preferred.

Applicants with significant hands-on experience operating comparable structural steel fabrication equipment may be considered even if they have not previously operated Voortman machinery.

We can teach the right experienced structural steel operator how to run our specific Voortman equipment. We are looking for someone who already understands the type of work and machinery.

Pay: $25.97 - $31.77 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 – 50.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person