Machine Operator (Processing)
Master Steel, Hardeeville, SC (In Person)
Full Time | Tier 1: $18 to $19 per hour Tier 2: $20 to $27 per hour | Monday to Friday, Saturdays as production requires
Position Summary:
Master Steel, an AISC Certified structural steel fabricator and erector in Hardeeville, South Carolina, is hiring Machine Operators to set up and run our processing equipment and keep material moving to fit-up and welding. You will cut, drill, punch, bend, and shape structural steel to PowerFab drawings and cut lists on our saws, Peddinghaus angle line, Messer plasma table, Prodevco, Cincinnati bending machine and press brake, and ironworker. Every piece that leaves your machine should be cut, marked, and staged correctly and on schedule. The position reports to the Processing Foreman.
We hire at two levels. Tier 1 is entry level: no processing experience is required. You pull, stage, and feed material, help operators with setup, and run machines as the Processing Foreman trains and approves you on them. Tier 2 is for experienced operators who set up and run the processing line on their own. Tier 1 operators move to Tier 2 once the Processing Foreman and the Shop Manager agree they can run the equipment to the Tier 2 standard.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Machine Setup & Operation
Set up and operate the saws, Peddinghaus angle line, Messer plasma table, Prodevco, Cincinnati bending machine and press brake, and ironworker per PowerFab drawings, cut lists, and NC programs
Load, import, and verify cutting and drilling programs against the piece mark and revision on the drawing before starting a run
Set up tooling, adjust the machine for the material and job, and complete daily startup checks before running
Tier 1: run only the machines the Processing Foreman has trained and approved you on, help operators with setup and loading, and learn to load and verify NC programs
Material Handling & Staging
Select, stage, and feed the correct raw material (plate, beam, angle, channel) by grade and size, verified against the cut list, so the machines are never waiting on material
Stamp or apply piece marks to processed material for traceability, and move it to fit-up staging correctly kitted
Rig and move material with overhead cranes, hoists, and shop lifting equipment following the shop's lifting and rigging procedures, and with forklifts only where certified
Keep material tags and production records accurate for each run
Quality
Cut, drill, punch, cope, and shape components to the specified dimensions and tolerances, and check first-piece and in-process dimensions with tape measure, square, and calipers
Inspect processed pieces for cut quality (dross, squareness, hole size and location) and hold defective material before it moves to fit-up
Report a drawing question, program problem, or material shortage to the Processing Foreman right away rather than working around it, and follow the shop's nonconformance process for rework or scrap
Equipment, Safety & Housekeeping
Follow company safety policies, PPE requirements, and safe machine and rigging practices, including machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and never reaching into a running machine
Stop unsafe work, and report any injury, near miss, or unsafe condition to the Processing Foreman and the Safety Manager the same day
Perform routine machine maintenance and cleaning (consumables, nozzles, blades, drill bits), and report mechanical issues rather than running through them
Keep the work area and material staging clean and organized, return tools at the end of the shift, and follow 5S housekeeping standards
Clock in and out in ClockShark and be at the machine, in PPE, and ready to work at the start of the shift
Minimum Qualifications:
Ability to measure accurately with a tape measure and match material to a cut list
Strong mechanical aptitude and attention to detail
Forklift certification or the ability to obtain it
Safety-sensitive position; subject to background screening per company policy
Reliable transportation to the Hardeeville shop and dependable attendance
Works well on a team, takes direction, and raises problems early
Tier 2 also requires:
Structural steel fabrication or processing experience
Ability to read PowerFab drawings, cut lists, and piece marks, and to measure to 1/16 inch with tape measure, square, and calipers
Experience with saws, angle lines, plasma tables, bending machines and press brakes, and/or ironworkers
Working knowledge of material handling, staging, and rigging
Basic computer literacy for loading NC programs
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience on Peddinghaus, Messer, or similar structural steel CNC equipment
Experience in a high-production fabrication environment
Welding experience
Work Environment
On the shop floor in the Hardeeville fabrication shop, at and around the processing equipment and material staging, and occasionally in the yard
Heat, noise, sparks, plasma fumes, and moving overhead loads; personal protective equipment required at all times on the floor
Stand, walk, and work through an 8-hour shift and sometimes longer; lift 10 to 30 pounds regularly and heavier material with assistance; climb, bend, reach, stoop, kneel, and stretch for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation
Compensation, Schedule & Benefits
Full time, non-exempt position reporting to the Processing Foreman, based in Hardeeville, South Carolina, with a benefits package
Tier 1: $18 to $19 per hour, based on skill and training progress. Tier 2: $20 to $27 per hour, commensurate with experience and skill level. Paid weekly, with overtime paid over 40 hours a week
Monday to Friday on the shop schedule, with Saturdays as production requires
Benefits:
medical (company pays 75% of the premium), dental, vision, $10,000 company-paid life and AD&D, 401(k) with company match after 180 days, paid time off, and 8 paid holidays
Equal Employment Opportunity
Master Steel is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, business needs, and other lawful factors.