Plastic Extrusion Operator

Laborup; Greeneville (TN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Laborup is hiring Extrusion Operators for a large plastics manufacturer in Greeneville, TN. This is a hands-on role operating and maintaining plastic extrusion lines from startup through finished product, ensuring products stay within specification.

You will prepare equipment, monitor line performance, adjust processes, perform quality checks with precision tools, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with maintenance and tooling teams as needed.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience working with plastic extrusion equipment.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot basic production equipment issues.
• Ability to read and understand product specifications and work instructions.
• Experience using measuring instruments such as tape measures and calipers.

Responsibilities

• Operate extrusion lines and related production equipment (downstream equipment, pullers, saws).
• Prepare extrusion lines for production and complete startup/shutdown procedures.
• Make process adjustments to color, length, tooling position, pins, and other variables to stay within specs.
• Perform routine product checks and measurements using precision tools.
• Troubleshoot equipment, tooling, quality, and process issues and coordinate with maintenance or production leadership.
• Monitor material needs and production flow, support downstream packaging as required.
• Complete production, quality, scrap, labeling, and equipment records accurately.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Quality inspection

Troubleshooting

Reading specifications

Process adjustments

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Tape measures

Calipers

Microscopes

Color meters

Job description

Overview

We’re hiring Extrusion Operators for a large, established plastics manufacturing operation.

This is a hands-on machine operation role responsible for running and maintaining plastic extrusion lines from startup through finished product. Operators work with extruders, downstream equipment, pullers, saws, tooling, and related production equipment while monitoring the process to ensure products remain within specification.

You’ll prepare and start equipment, monitor line performance, make process adjustments, perform quality checks using precision measuring tools, troubleshoot production issues, and coordinate with maintenance and tooling teams when problems arise.

What makes this role great:

• Skilled Manufacturing Work: Build experience with extrusion equipment, tooling, process adjustments, troubleshooting, and dimensional inspection
• 50% of Your Days Off: Rotating 12-hour schedules + ability to choose either days or nights
• Direct Path to Advancement: Advanced production and lead roles are filled from the shop floor, creating opportunities for promotion

Compensation

• $19/hr – Day shift
• $20/hr – Night shift
• Built-in overtime through the rotating schedules
• Full-time, direct-hire – not a temp job

Shift

Multiple openings are available on both days and nights:

• Day Shift: Rotating 2-2-3 schedule, 12-hour shifts
• Night Shift: Rotating 4-on / 4-off schedule, 12-hour shifts

Responsibilities:

• Extrusion Line Operation: Operate extruders, downstream equipment, pullers, saws, and other associated production equipment.
• Setup & Startup: Prepare extrusion lines for production, verify proper setup, and complete normal startup, shutdown, and emergency operating procedures.
• Process Adjustments: Make adjustments to color, length, tooling position, pins, and other process variables to keep products within specification.
• Quality Inspection: Perform routine product checks and measurements using tools such as tape measures, calipers, squares, microscopes, and color meters.
• Troubleshooting: Identify equipment, tooling, quality, and process issues and coordinate with maintenance, tooling, and production leadership when additional support is needed.
• Material & Production Support: Monitor material needs, maintain production flow, build packaging crates when required, and support downstream packaging activities.
• Documentation: Complete required production, quality, scrap, labeling, and equipment records accurately.

Qualifications:

• 1+ year of experience working with plastic extrusion equipment
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot basic production equipment issues
• Ability to read and understand product specifications and work instructions
• Experience using measuring instruments such as tape measures and calipers