Furnace Melt Operator – Up to $31.00/hr (3rd Shift)

Mindscope; Cedarburg (WI); On-site; USD 49,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with match

Bonus opportunities

Health and dental benefits

PTO for attendance

Job summary

Mindscope is seeking a Furnace Melt Operator for its Cedarburg, WI facility on the 1st shift (6:00 AM – 2:15 PM). This permanent, direct-hire role focuses on operating and maintaining industrial melting furnaces to feed high-pressure die casting cells.

You will manage ingot charging, skimming, sampling, basic maintenance, and material-handling tasks while upholding safety and 5S standards. Competitive pay and benefits included.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated career stability with 2+ years at each previous employer.
• Foundry/melt operations experience in heavy manufacturing preferred.
• Solid mechanical aptitude and basic math for weighing materials.
• Reside within a 45-minute commute of Cedarburg, WI.

Responsibilities

• Operate and charge industrial melting furnaces with ingots, sows, and scrap.
• Tap and skim molten metal, maintain temperature and cleanliness.
• Pull lab samples for chemical analysis and alloy verification.
• Perform basic furnace maintenance and troubleshoot equipment.
• Safely operate forklifts and overhead hoists for material transport.
• Record quantities and maintain daily production logs.
• Follow OSHA, Lockout/Tagout, PPE rules and 5S standards.

Skills

Job stability

Foundry/melt operations

Mechanical & Math skills

Commutable radius

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Order ID: 4804

Employment Type: Permanent

Salary: $48880-64480/Yr

Web Publication Date: 10/20/2026 12:00:00 AM

Job Location: Cedarburg, WI 53012

Job Function:

Furnace Melt Operator – High-Pressure Die Casting (1st Shift)

Up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr based upon experience) Cedarburg, WI Area 1st Shift (6:00 AM – 2:15 PM) Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr baseline based upon experience) + 401(k) with match, pay-for-performance bonus opportunities, full health/dental benefits, and opportunities to earn additional hours of bonus PTO per year for strong attendance.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Dedicated 1st Shift schedule (6:00 AM – 2:15 PM, Monday – Friday) providing convenient daytime routine stability.
• Environment & Company Profile: Direct-hire seat with one of North America's largest independent die casting manufacturers; ISO-certified facility featuring high employee stability (40% tenure over 10+ years) and tier-one OEM partnerships.
• Core Functional Scope: Operate and maintain industrial melting furnaces, charge raw materials (ingots, sows, internal scrap), skim molten metal, and pull lab samples to ensure exact alloy quality for high-pressure die casting operations.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires strict job stability (minimum 2+ years per employer), foundry or heavy manufacturing melt/furnace experience, mobile equipment proficiency, US work authorization, and a commute within 45 minutes of Cedarburg, WI.

A premier, North American market leader in high-precision die casting is seeking a reliable Furnace Melt Operator to support 1st shift foundry operations. Responsible for tapping, charging, and skimming melting furnaces, this seat is vital for providing continuous, high-quality molten metal to high-pressure aluminum die-casting cells.

Joining an ISO-certified facility where 40% of the team boasts over a decade of tenure, this direct-hire position offers excellent hourly compensation, long-term stability, strong 401(k) matching, and structured career development paths in an employee-first environment.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Operate & Charge Furnaces: Set up, load, and operate industrial melting furnaces with raw ingot, sows, and internal scrap metal according to strict melt specifications.
• Tap & Skim Molten Metal: Tap furnaces as directed by leadership and skim impurities from molten metal, taking care to maintain strict temperature and cleanliness standards.
• Pull Samples for Quality Analysis: Remove liquid metal samples, label them, and submit them to the metallurgy lab for chemical composition testing and alloy verification.
• Perform Basic Furnace Maintenance: Clean furnaces, burner wells, and metal transfer equipment; perform basic mechanical troubleshooting and preventative maintenance work orders.
• Operate Material Handling Equipment: Safely operate powered industrial forklift trucks and overhead electric hoists to transport ingots, sows, containers, and finished product.
• Track Production & Documentation: Count, weigh, and record material quantities moved on daily production logs while maintaining accurate attendance and quality reporting.
• Enforce Safety & 5S Standards: Follow all OSHA safety rules, strict Lockout/Tagout protocols, proper PPE requirements for hot metal environments, and 5S workplace organization.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Job Stability Required: Demonstrated career stability with a strict requirement of at least 2+ years of tenure at each previous employer.
• Foundry/Melt Operations Background: Prior experience operating industrial furnaces, melting aluminum/zinc/magnesium alloys, or working in a heavy industrial foundry/metalworking environment.
• Mechanical & Math Skills: Solid mechanical aptitude, basic math proficiency for weighing and counting materials, and the ability to operate material handling equipment.
• Commutable Radius: Must reside within a 45-minute maximum commute of the Cedarburg / Greater Milwaukee, WI area.
• Education & Authorization: High School Diploma or GED required; must be fully authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Die Cast & Mold Theory: Working knowledge of high-pressure aluminum die-casting processes, vacuum systems, or molten metal thermal management.
• Quality Systems Knowledge: Experience operating within ISO/TS or IATF 16949 quality systems and applying 5S methodology on the shop floor.
• Forklift & Hoist Certification: Hands-on experience operating heavy-capacity forklifts, overhead bridge cranes, or specialized ladle hoists.