Fabrication Shop Lead- 1st Shift (6am-2pm)

Insteel Industries, Inc.; Hazle Village (PA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Bonus eligibility based on performance

Paid time off including holidays and/v

Excellent benefits (medical, dental, V

401(k) with match

Job summary

Insteel Industries, a major steel reinforcement producer, seeks a Fabrication Shop Lead for 1st shift (6am-2pm) to supervise the fabrication shop and contribute to welding, machining, and repair work. The role balances hands-on fabrication with team leadership, continuous improvement, and safety leadership.

The ideal candidate has 1–2 years of related experience, proficiency with shop equipment (benders, welders, saws, drill presses), and a strong commitment to quality, safety, and efficient

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Ability to complete simple forms and understand simple written instructions.
• Ability to perform simple arithmetic skills involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.
• Experience operating fabrication shop equipment, including benders, welders, saws, drill presses, and other related machinery.
• A minimum of 1-2 years work-related experience is required.
• Experience reading blueprints, shop drawings, and production specifications required.
• Equivalent combinations of education and relevant work experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Locate material in the storage area.
• Locate and move material in storage area with forklift and overhead crane.
• Set up and operate bender equipment and other fabrication machinery.
• Perform regular quality checks and ensure products meet specifications.
• Read, understand, and follow build sheets and drawings for setup and operation.
• Make templates as directed.
• Organize and prepare for upcoming changeovers on bender machine.
• Inspect finished products to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Package bent sheets per customer specification.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Work in designated areas of plant as a laborer when bending operations are not in process.

Skills

Leadership

Safety consciousness

Reading blueprints

Arithmetic abilities

Education

High School diploma

Equivalent combinations of education and experience

Tools

Bender equipment

Welders

Saws

Drill presses

Job description

Fabrication Shop Lead- 1st Shift (6am-2pm)

Position Summary

The Fabrication Shop Lead prepares, sets up, and operates the bender machine in a safe and efficient manner to bend product to customer specifications and quality standards. This position is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the fabrication shop while actively participating in welding, machining, fabrication, and repair projects. The Fabrication Shop Lead provides leadership, coordinates shop workloads, ensures quality standards are met, and promotes a safe and productive work environment.

This role works daily to ensure assigned areas of responsibility operate with risk lowered to ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) in support of the company's ZERO HARM, ensuring no injuries, illnesses, or negative impacts occur to employees, property, environment, or the community. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled and motivated leader who can balance hands-on fabrication responsibilities with team leadership, continuous improvement initiatives, and a strong commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Locates material in the storage area.
• Locates and moves material in storage area with forklift and overhead crane.
• Set up and operate bender equipment and other fabrication machinery.
• Performs regular quality checks and ensure products meet specifications.
• Reads, understands, and follows build sheets and drawings for setup and operation.
• Make templates as directed.
• Organizes and prepares for upcoming changeovers on bender machine.
• Inspect finished products to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Packages bent sheets per customer specification.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Works in designated areas of plant as a laborer when bending operations are not in process.

Supervisory Requirements

• Provide daily leadership and direction to 2-3 fabrication employees.

Education and Experience

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Ability to complete simple forms and understand simple written instructions.
• Ability to perform simple arithmetic skills involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.
• Experience operating fabrication shop equipment, including benders, welders, saws, drill presses, and other related machinery.

• A minimum of 1-2 years work-related experience is required.
• Experience reading blueprints, shop drawings, and production specifications required.
• Equivalent combinations of education and relevant work experience may be considered.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The physical demands in a heavy manufacturing environment are significantly more strenuous and require a high level of physical fitness and stamina. Workers are frequently required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, crouch, and lift or carry heavy materials - often over 50 pounds - throughout their shift. Tasks may involve operating or working near heavy machinery, using hand and power tools, and performing repetitive motions. Employees must also be able to tolerate exposure to heat, cold, loud noise, and other environmental factors such as dust, vibration, and slippery surfaces. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, and physical agility, coordination, and situational awareness are critical to performing job duties safely and effectively in an industrial setting.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job and may be somewhat disagreeable working conditions. The employee is responsible for minimizing accidents within the facility and for following established safety policies and procedures during the performance of this job.

The work environment for this position is an industrial manufacturing plant, with employees regularly exposed to physical and environmental challenges. Workers are continuously (70-100% of the time) around moving and potentially dangerous machinery and are subject to loud noise levels that require hearing protection. Continuously (70-100% of the time), they may encounter heat from both weather and industrial processes, as well as cold weather conditions. Continuously (70-100% of the time), the environment may include wet or humid conditions, slippery floors or ramps, vibration from equipment, exposure to outside weather, dust, electrical shock hazards, and contact with oil, grease, or solvents. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to safety protocols are essential in maintaining a safe and productive workspace in this industrial setting.

For your hard work, you receive:

• Competitive base pay
• Bonus eligibility based on organizational performance
• Paid time off including holidays and vacation
• Excellent benefits to include medical, dental, vision, company paid life/short-term disability/long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings account (HSA), 401(k) with match, company paid tele-health, stock purchase plan, tuition reimbursement assistance, and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).

These duties may be modified or changed at any time at the sole discretion of management either orally or in writing. The above statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

INSTEEL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to consider applicants residing in locations outside the US requiring Visa sponsorship at this time.

About the Company:

Insteel Industries is the nation’s largest manufacturer of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction, including prestressed concrete strand and welded wire reinforcement such as engineered structural mesh and concrete pipe reinforcement. Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Mount Airy, NC, Insteel operates 11 manufacturing plants across the U.S. and has a dedicated engineering services division. As a publicly traded company, our goal is to be the supplier of choice by delivering superior value to our customers. Learn more at insteel.com/careers.