Hands-On Extrusion Engineer & Production Leader

TACO Metals, LLC.; Sparta (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

TACO Metals in Sparta, TN seeks a hands-on Extrusion Engineer & Production Manager to lead our Plastics Manufacturing floor. You will troubleshoot extrusion processes, lead process improvements, and coordinate with maintenance, quality, and engineering to meet targets and drive departmental growth.

Ideal candidates bring 3–7 years in extrusion with leadership potential and a strong hands-on mindset, ready to mentor operators and expand production capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• 3–7 years of plastic extrusion or polymer processing experience.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Experience with ERP systems and production scheduling is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, develop, and optimize plastic extrusion processes to improve quality, efficiency, throughput, and uptime.
• Evaluate and improve tooling, dies, downstream equipment, line setup, and process parameters.
• Support new product development, prototype trials, and production launches.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions related to quality, process performance, and equipment reliability.
• Support daily production operations across shifts to meet production targets and customer delivery needs.
• Help reduce scrap, improve line performance, and strengthen manufacturing standards.
• Train, coach, and support extrusion operators and production team members.
• Partner with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain to solve problems and drive results.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, safety, cost‑control, and capital planning initiatives.
• Develop knowledge in production scheduling, workforce management, budgeting, and departmental leadership.

Skills

Plastic extrusion

Floor troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Plastics/Mechanical/Manufacturing Eng

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

TACO Metals in Sparta, TN seeks a hands-on Extrusion Engineer & Production Manager to lead our Plastics Manufacturing floor. You will troubleshoot extrusion processes, lead process improvements, and coordinate with maintenance, quality, and engineering to meet targets and drive departmental growth.

Ideal candidates bring 3–7 years in extrusion with leadership potential and a strong hands-on mindset, ready to mentor operators and expand production capabilities.