CNC Oxy-Fuel & Plasma Machine Operator

Precision Steel Services has supplied steel across the Midwest since 1974. We are looking for a CNC Oxy-Fuel & Plasma Machine Operator to join our production team.

This role is where production starts.

You will run CNC cutting equipment to turn raw steel plate into finished parts. The quality of your cut affects every step after you. When the cut is right, the rest of the shop moves better. When it is wrong, rework, delays, and quality issues follow.

This is hands-on manufacturing work for someone who can stay focused, think ahead, and take ownership of the job.

What You’ll Do

• Operate CNC oxy-fuel and plasma cutting machines to process steel plate
• Set up and adjust machine settings, including gas pressure, consumables, torch settings, and cutting speed
• Verify material grade, thickness, and job requirements before cutting
• Read and follow work orders, prints, and job travelers
• Plan cuts and use material efficiently to reduce scrap and waste
• Monitor machine performance and respond to problems during operation
• Inspect finished parts for accuracy, clean cuts, and quality issues
• Use tape measures and basic shop math to verify dimensions
• Record production information accurately
• Use overhead cranes and/or forklifts to load, unload, and stage material
• Perform basic machine maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep
• Maintain a clean, safe work area and follow PPE requirements

What We Expect

• You take ownership of the cut and do not pass bad parts downstream
• You stay focused and consistent throughout the shift
• You work with urgency while keeping control of quality
• You think ahead before cutting material
• You communicate problems early
• You show up reliably and understand that attendance matters
• You can handle physical work in a manufacturing environment
• You take care of the equipment and work area like it matters

What Winning Looks Like

• Parts are cut clean, accurate, and to specification
• Rework is minimized
• Material is used efficiently
• Machines are set up, monitored, and maintained correctly
• Problems are caught early instead of passed forward
• The next operation receives parts that are ready to move
• Production keeps flowing because cutting stays consistent

Why Precision Steel

Burn operators are not just running machines. They produce the product the customer sees.

Strong operators build skill, earn trust, and have real opportunities to grow into higher-level roles across the shop. This is a good fit for someone who takes pride in doing the job right and wants to become more valuable over time.

Fast hiring process: interview, shop tour, and quick decision for the right person.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with steel, metal, fabrication, manufacturing, or a similar industrial environment
• Experience working around cutting, welding, fuel gases, or industrial gases such as oxygen, propane, acetylene, nitrogen, or argon
• Ability to read basic measurements or willingness to learn quickly
• Strong attention to detail and quality
• Reliable attendance and strong work ethic
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and perform physical work throughout the shift
• Ability to work in varying shop temperatures, noise, and industrial conditions
• Ability to work overtime, including rotating weekends when required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience running plasma, oxy-fuel, laser, or other cutting equipment
• CNC machine, controller, or computer-operated equipment experience
• Blueprint, shop drawing, or work order reading experience
• Overhead crane, forklift, or heavy material handling experience
• Welding or steel fabrication experience

Pay, Shift & Growth

Starting Pay: $20.00/hour

Shift Premiums:

• 2nd Shift: +$0.50/hour
• 3rd Shift: +$1.00/hour

Overtime available

We believe pay should grow with skill, reliability, and performance. Operators can advance through higher skill tiers as they learn machine setup, cutting quality, material handling, troubleshooting, and production control.

Progression is earned through performance, not just time on the job.

Benefits

• Direct hire position
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off starting at 90 days
• Life insurance
• Short-term disability
• Performance and attendance-based incentives
• Ongoing training and skill development
• Cross-training and advancement opportunities
• Stable, full-time work with overtime opportunities