Metal Forming Machine Operator

Solar Turbines Incorporated; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in San Diego is seeking a manufacturing operator to set up and run hydraulic piercing machines, presses, lathes and trimming tools for production parts.

You will align tooling, adjust feeds, and verify dimensions using gauges and blueprints, ensuring quality and efficiency in a fast-paced shop environment. The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent, basic data entry, and willingness to work overtime and all shifts as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent required.
• Basic data entry into computer systems.
• Ability to lift parts and fixtures safely.
• Willingness to work overtime as needed and to rotate shifts.
• Ability to read and interpret simple production information.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate hydraulic piercing machines, brakes, presses and related tooling to form parts.
• Adjust equipment to tolerances and check dimensions with gauges.
• Maintain hydraulic oil pressure and temperature as required.
• Align punches, dies, and feeds; set stroke length and clearances.
• Perform cold/hot forming operations on production parts.
• Operate lathes, saws, nibblers and trimming tools for preformed parts.
• Read blueprints and follow setup charts and records.
• Document production logs and quality checks.
• Identify and report equipment issues; make minor adjustments.
• Follow safety procedures and participate in continuous improvement.
• Support foundry-related tasks as needed.

Skills

Data entry

Lifting

Shift work

Overtime readiness

Education

High school diploma

GED

Tools

Blueprint reading

Job description

Career Area:

Operations

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you’rejoining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don’tjust talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

About the Role:

Set up and operate various types and sizes of hydraulic piercing machines, drop-hammers, hydroforming machines, hydraulic presses, punch presses, spinning lathes, and trimming tools to form and pierce sheet metal, extruded, and other production parts. Make open and closed molds and cast tooling and parts.

What You Will Do:

• Set up and operate various types and sizes of metal forming and hydraulic piercing machines such as brakes and metal cutting equipment and/or arbor type hot forming presses to form production, experimental, or developmental parts Set up and operate various types and sizes of drop hammers to form production, experimental or developmental parts involving complex contours, sharp angles and/or deep draws which result in severe forming.
• Align and center punches and dies to predetermined clearances and heights by using indicators, gauges, production aids, shims, spacers, and wedges. Adjust cams, hydraulic valves, electrical timing, microswitches, length of stroke of ram and index rings to proper location and height
• Adjust automatic feed head for pierce depth
• Maintain required hydraulic pressure and temperature of oil according to hardness or gauge of metal
• Adjust air pressure of punch when required
• Apply lubricant to part, punch and die when necessary
• Anchor die to bed by use of molten metal and/or clamping dogs
• Bolt punch to ram
• Determine the need for location, size and thickness of rubber pressure pads
• Check punch and die following established procedures or oral and/or written instructions
• Perform cold and hot forming operations
• Recognize improper functioning of drop hammers and make minor corrections or alterations to the punch or die
• Perform hand peening and operate other machines such as saws, lathes and nibblers for trimming preformed parts or planishing hammers for finishing parts
• Apply proper lubricants following established procedures or oral and written instructions
• Perform cold and hot forming operations
• Recognize improper functioning of machines and make machine adjustment and/or minor corrections or alterations to the punch or die
• Set up and operate spinning lathes to form and final trim sheet metal parts
• Set up and operate hydraulic forming machines
• Perform such typical foundry operations as determining the proper size flash to use, method of placing and withdrawing patterns when back drafting, placement, location and method of supporting cores, proper temperature at which metal should be poured and method of pouring.
• Make all types of open and closed molds to exacting tolerances
• Perform such typical operations as placing pattern in position to flask, placing cores, screening and cutting sand, ramming sand around pattern to proper consistency, removing pattern, placing vents, cutting gates and pouring metal into mold.
• Remove casting irregularities by die grinding
• Perform peening of preformed parts as required
• Use blueprints or templates to determine trim lines
• Make optical comparator checks to prove setups
• Use precision measuring devices to check setup and dimensions of parts pierced
• Perform rework of the same level of difficulty as described herein
• Compile necessary records such as production logs and maintain setup charts

What You Have:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Basic data entry into computer
• Ability to lift parts and fixtures
• Ability to work overtime as needed
• Willing to work any shift

Preferred Qualifications:

• Piercing machines
• Drop hammers
• Hydraulic presses
• Punch presses
• Spinning lathes
• Expander- shrinker machines and trimming tools
• Precision measuring
• Precision measuring toolsAble to read production blueprints

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Summary Pay Range:

$21.00 - $35.84

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location,job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
• 401(k) savings plans*
• Health Savings Account (HSA)*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Health Lifestyle Programs*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
• Career Development*
• Incentive bonus*
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.