Gear Grinder A

Flender Corporation USA; United States; On-site; USD 48,216 - 55,104; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off (18 Days)

Paid Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Health Savings Account

401(k) (6% Employer Match)

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Flender Corporation USA is seeking an experienced Gear Grinder to join our team in Elgin, IL. This full-time position requires expertise in CNC grinding and profile gear machining, with a minimum of 8 years of experience. The ideal candidate will perform complex grinding operations while ensuring adherence to stringent quality standards.

The role comes with competitive pay of $35-$40/hour based on experience, as well as a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, insurance, and a 401(k) with employer match.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in precision grinding or similar.
• 3+ years specifically in profile grinding of gears.
• Physical ability to stand, move about, and lift up to 20lbs.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate profile gear grinding machines.
• Program or modify CNC profile grinding programs.
• Perform in‑process and final inspections.
• Analyze grinding problems and implement corrective actions.

Skills

CNC grinding expertise

Profile grinding of gears

Precision machining

Reading gear drawings

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Technical degree or apprenticeship

Tools

Gear measuring centers

CNC profile grinding machines

Job description

Gear Grinder Company Description Flender is a leading global supplier for mechanical drive systems and has the reputation for highest performance, innovation, quality, and reliability of mechanical components for 125 years. We’re now hiring a talented Gear Grinder for our team in Elgin, IL on a full-time basis. If you’re eager for your next challenge, Flender is a great place to grow your career. For more information on Flender, please see website: www.flender.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Flender is an Equal Opportunity andAffirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran or military status, other categories protected by federal, state, or local law, and regardless of whether the qualified applicants are individuals with disabilities.

Job Summary

This position typically requires 8+ years of experience in precision grinding or a similar field and 3+ years specifically in profile grinding of gears or gear‑related components. Working with minimal technical supervision, the Skilled Gear Grinder performs complex set‑ups and grinding operations on profile gear grinding machines to produce and finish gears and gear components to very close tolerances and stringent quality requirements. The employee independently: interprets blueprints, process sheets, and work instructions; selects and mounts workholding, grinding wheels, and dressing tools; programs or edits CNC profile grinding cycles as required; determines operation sequences and grinding strategies; performs in‑process inspection and makes necessary corrections to maintain tolerances. The Skilled Gear Grinder uses all required precision measuring equipment, and understands gear geometry (e.g., involute profile, lead, pitch). At this level the employee acts as a technical resource for less experienced grinders and machinists, provides on‑the‑job training to new employees, actively participates in process improvements, has a proven track record of improvement submissions, and may perform other duties as assigned by supervisor. May be required to oversee quality, workmanship and training of fellow team members and, as assigned, perform the role of lead person.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate profile gear grinding machines (e.g., Niles, Pfauter, Liebherr, Höfler, or equivalent); load, clamp, align, and center gear workpieces and mandrels; adjust fixturing, machine offsets, and process parameters to achieve required tolerances and surface finish.
• Program or modify CNC profile grinding programs as needed to meet drawing and process requirements; determine and optimize operation sequences for profile, lead, and root grinding; select and set dressing parameters for grinding wheels and form rolls.
• Perform in‑process and final inspections using gear measuring centres, micrometers, calipers, indicators, and surface roughness gauges; read and interpret gear inspection charts and make corrections to maintain tolerances.
• Prepare and maintain productivity, capacity, and quality figures according to given schemes and work standards.
• Independently analyze grinding problems (burn, chatter, profile/lead deviations, taper, runout, size variation); implement corrective actions related to wheel selection, dressing, coolant, feeds/speeds, and clamping methods; analyze error incidence and support root‑cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Maintain machine care and preventive maintenance; monitor service intervals, perform assigned preventive maintenance, and carry out cleaning tasks to keep machines in good working order; respond promptly to machine alarms and minor mechanical issues and coordinate with maintenance as required; maintain a clean and orderly work area in compliance with 5S standards.
• Operate Barkhausen noise measurement equipment to detect grinding burn and surface damage on ground parts as required by the control plan.
• Provide structured training and guidance for new grinders and machinists on profile grinding processes, safety, and quality requirements; share best practices and act as a subject‑matter expert for gear grinding operations.
• Cross‑train and operate a secondary machine (e.g., gear inspection equipment, hard turning, or other grinding operations) within training and capability as required.
• Maintain good communication and professional behavior with supervisors, quality personnel, maintenance, and fellow team members; report deviations, nonconformances, and safety concerns promptly and constructively.
• Ensure targeted dates, capacities, and productivity requirements are met according to route sheets and supervisor direction; support continuous improvement in throughput, set‑up time, and first‑pass yield.
• Operate cranes, fork trucks, and rigging (chains, shackles, straps) only when trained and authorized; follow the SOP for inspection of lifting slings, chains, and shackles when using rigging equipment; adhere to all EH&S, ISO, and internal quality requirements and work standards.
• Maintain a proven record of improvement submissions or equivalent improvement activities, including cost‑saving and safety‑related ideas; actively participate in problem‑solving teams and improvement workshops.

Qualifications

• Expertise in CNC or conventional grinding, gear machining, or similar precision machining role.
• Demonstrated experience in profile grinding of gears or gear‑type components, including reading gear drawings and inspection records.
• Experience working with alloy and case‑hardened steels, including awareness of grinding burn and microstructural damage.
• 8+ years of precision or CNC grinding / gear machining; 3+ years of primary profile gear grinding.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; completion of an apprenticeship, vocational training, or technical degree in machining, toolmaking, or related field preferred.
• Capability to meet productivity requirements as listed on route sheets; same for past and present performance standards for similar work.
• Physical ability to stand, move about, and lift up to 20lbs; meet company attendance policy and willingness to work minimum 40h/week with potential overtime.

Training Requirements

• EH&S safety training according to the EH&S training matrix for this job (crane operation and safety, fork truck safety and operation, rigging SOP, disposal, ISO basics).
• Blueprint and gear drawing reading (gear data, tolerances, GD&T).
• Parts identification and use of part lists and SAP (or other ERP) transactions.
• Measuring equipment use, including gear measuring equipment, micrometers, vernier calipers, bore gages, and form/lead testers.
• Barkhausen noise analysis device – operation and basic interpretation for grinding burn detection (training will be provided).

Pay

$35‑$40/hour based on experience.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (18 Days)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• 401(k) (6% Employer Match)
• Employee Assistance Program

Flender is an Equal Opportunity andAffirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, transgender, sex stereotyping, order of protection status, protected veteran or military status, or an unfavorable discharge from military service, and other categories protected by federal, state or local law.