Extrusion Machine Operator

Brightpath Associates LLC; Morrisville (Bucks County); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightpath Associates LLC is seeking a detail-oriented Extrusion Machine Operator for our Morrisville facility. You will run production lines, set up extrusion equipment, stage materials, monitor processes, and perform basic quality checks to ensure high-specification plastic compounds meet strict standards.

You will collaborate with Team Leaders and senior operators, complete on-shift safety protocols, and participate in ongoing training during the 1st shift to transition to your assigned

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Active forklift certification or ability to obtain one.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Willingness to train on 1st shift before moving to assigned shift.
• Ability to work with PPE and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Set up extrusion equipment and perform tool changes per specs.
• Stage materials and input process parameters into control interfaces.
• Operate extruders and pelletizers, monitor live process, and perform basic quality checks.
• Package finished product and log production data into ERP/MES systems.
• Conduct daily preventive maintenance and keep the work area clean.

Skills

Safety-conscious

Hands-on

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Forklift certification

Driver's license

Tools

Oracle

Microsoft Office

Job description

• 2nd Shift: Monday – Friday, 3:30 PM – 12:00 AM
• 3rd Shift: Sunday – Friday, 11:30 PM – 8:00 AM
• (Note: Initial onboarding and training will take place during 1st Shift.)

Role Overview

We are seeking detail-oriented and safety-conscious Extrusion Machine Operators to run production lines at our Morrisville compounding facility. In this role, you will handle machine setup, material staging, live process monitoring, and basic quality checks to produce high-specification plastic compounds and pellets. You will collaborate closely with Team Leaders and senior operators to ensure safe, efficient, and defect-free manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

1. Machine Setup & Tooling Changeovers

• Review work binders, campaign numbers, and run sheets to configure equipment according to technical specifications.
• Install, clean and change extruder tooling, including screws, dies, sizing screens, and pelletizer blades.
• Input process parameters (temperatures, feed rates, Gala water temperatures) into digital control interfaces (VDUs).
• Safely stage raw materials, color pots, and additives at feed stations using forklifts (tow motors), hoists, or carts.
• Operate extruders, cooling troughs, classifiers, and pelletizers to process resin mixes into uniform pellets.
• Reprocess non-conforming batches through tumblers and injection molders to recover material that fails color parameters.

3. Quality Assurance & Troubleshooting

• Pull continuous production samples and run press tests to identify color inconsistencies (e.g., light/dark "salt-and-pepper" defects).
• Apply shop-floor mathematics to calculate adjustments for feed rates, calibration, and output speeds.
• Escalate and diagnose mechanical glitches, line jams, or off-spec runs alongside senior operators and maintenance teams.

4. Packaging, Tracking & Basic Maintenance

• Package finished product into specified drums or bulk totes, print and verify barcoded shipping labels, and transport lots to logistics staging areas.
• Log production statistics, scrap counts, process adjustments, and downtime directly into ERP/MES platforms (e.g., Oracle).
• Perform daily operator-level preventive maintenance (clearing residue, lubricating parts, inspecting blades) and maintain a clean, organized work cell.

Candidate Qualifications

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Active Tow Motor / Forklift certification (or ability to earn certification upon hire).
• Valid driver’s license with reliable personal transportation.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on manufacturing environment adhering strictly to PPE and chemical/machinery safety protocols.
• Ability to complete initial training on 1st Shift before transitioning to your assigned shift.

Preferred:

• 1–2 years of experience operating industrial plastics processing equipment (twin-screw/single-screw extruders, compounding lines, or injection molders).
• Familiarity with color analysis (evaluating Hue, Value, Chroma, and visual shade variations).
• Working knowledge of shop math (ratios, arithmetic, and basic geometry) and industrial software/data-entry systems (Microsoft Office, Oracle).
• Demonstrated experience with basic mechanical teardown, cleaning with hand tools, and line sanitization between product batches.