COMBUSTION TECHNICIAN

Position Summary

The Combustion Technician is responsible for overseeing the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all combustion systems within the plant, including melt shop furnaces, forging furnaces, heat treatment furnaces, and auxiliary heating equipment. Position relies heavily on electrical trouble shooting skills. Maintenance/Supervision experience is a plus. This role ensures compliance with environmental and safety regulations, drives optimization of fuel usage, and provides technical expertise in combustion system maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades. The Combustion Technician works closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to maximize uptime, energy efficiency, and product quality.

*This is a second shift position*

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Oversight.
  • Develop and enforce safe operating procedures for all combustion systems.
  • Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) on combustion, burners, fuel systems, and emissions controls.
• Operations & Optimization
  • Monitor and optimize combustion efficiency in melt shop, forging, and heat treatment operations.
  • Implement fuel usage reduction initiatives and energy savings programs.
  • Ensure consistent heating profiles and uniformity to meet metallurgical specifications.
• Maintenance & Reliability
  • Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance for combustion systems (burners, controls, gas trains, refractory).
  • Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for combustion-related downtime.
  • Coordinate with Maintenance and Engineering on repairs, retrofits, and system upgrades.
• Compliance & Safety
  • Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and local environmental regulations.
  • Manage combustion system,audits, and inspections.
  • Lead hazard analysis and risk assessments related to combustion operations.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities for new technologies or process improvements in combustion systems.
  • Partner with engineering to design and implement upgrades or new installations.
  • Develop KPIs for combustion performance (fuel efficiency, uptime, emissions).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or related field (preferred) OR equivalent technical experience.
• 5+ years of experience with industrial combustion systems, preferably in steel or heavy manufacturing required.
• Strong knowledge of natural gas, burners, combustion controls, and emissions monitoring.
• Experience with industrial furnaces (forging furnaces, heat treat systems).
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills.
• Familiarity with NFPA 86, OSHA standards, and EPA environmental regulations.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving ability in high-pressure environments.

Competencies

• Technical Expertise – Deep knowledge of combustion principles and industrial furnace operations.
• Leadership – Ability to mentor and lead a cross-functional technical team.
• Safety Focus – Commitment to hazard recognition and compliance.
• Analytical Skills – Data-driven approach to optimization and troubleshooting.
• Communication – Clear and concise communication across operations, maintenance, and leadership levels.

Working Conditions

• Steel manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, noise, heavy equipment, and molten metal operations.
• Requires use of PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, flame-resistant clothing, hearing protection).
• Rotational presence across shifts may be required for troubleshooting or project execution.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match & Profit Sharing
• Short-Term Disability & Life Insurance
• 10 Paid Holidays & Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Overtime Opportunities
• Career Advancement & On-the-Job Training