Press Brake Operator I

Container Products Company; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Container Products Company in Kentucky is seeking a Fabricator II to independently set up and operate the press brake and related fabrication equipment to produce complex parts for CPC’s compliant containers used in handling radioactive and hazardous materials.

You will read blueprints, apply bend allowances, verify dimensions with precision tools, and coach junior operators while maintaining safety, quality records, and on-time throughput.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of press brake or fabrication experience in manufacturing.
• Independently set up and operate press brake, selecting dies.
• Strong blueprint reading and GD&T fundamentals.
• Proficient with bend allowance and bend radius calculations.
• Skilled in using calipers, micrometers, and height gauges for measurements.

Responsibilities

• Independently set up and operate the press brake and related fabrication equipment.
• Select dies and tooling based on material, thickness, and bend requirements.
• Calculate bend allowance and radius accurately for each part.
• Follow safety procedures, LOTO, and PPE at all times.
• Operate overhead crane and rigging equipment safely.
• Keep the work cell clean, organized, and staged for the next job.
• Coach Fabricator I operators on setup, die selection, and print interpretation.
• Provide clear, reliable handoffs between shifts and cells.
• Maintain documentation like travelers and quality records accurately.

Skills

Press brake operation

Die selection

Blueprint reading

GD&T fundamentals

Bend calculations

Precision measurement

Overhead crane

Team coaching

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Height gauges

Job description

• The Press Brake Operator independently sets up and operates the press brake and related fabrication equipment to produce complex, on-print parts that go into CPC’s compliant containers for radioactive and hazardous material.
• This role requires die selection, bend allowance and radius calculations, precision measurement, and the ability to interpret complex blueprints and GD&T. This role is evaluated on two equally weighted dimensions: Competency (what you do) and Culture (how you do it).

Big 3 - Competency // What you'll do

1. Independent Press Brake Setup & Operation

• Independently set up and operate the press brake and related fabrication equipment
• Select dies and tooling correctly based on material, thickness, and bend requirements
• Calculate and apply bend allowance and bend radius correctly for the assigned part
• Follow safety procedures, LOTO, and PPE requirements at all times
• Operate overhead crane and rigging equipment safely and within certification
• Keep the work cell clean, organized, and staged for the next job or shift

2. Complex Layout, Blueprint & GD&T Execution

• Interpret complex blueprints, bend callouts, and GD&T fundamentals accurately
• Identify datums, form features, and critical dimensions before setup
• Escalate print questions or discrepancies before starting the bend sequence

Complex Layout & Multi-Hit Forming

• Plan and execute complex part layouts and multi-hit forming without distortion
• Hold bend and flat tolerances per print on common and complex materials
• Verify dimensions with calipers, micrometers, and height gauges before releasing the part

3. Quality, Throughput & Team Support

Quality, Yield & Documentation

• Meet daily throughput expectations with accurate documentation and no paperwork errors
• Hold first-pass yield at or above 95% on complex parts and rework below 2%
• Complete travelers, sign-offs, and quality records honestly and completely

Coaching & Shift Handoff

• Coach Fabricator I operators on setup, die selection, and print interpretation
• Provide clear, reliable handoffs between shifts and between cells
• Contribute to fixture ideas and standard-work updates that make the cell better

Big 5 - Culture // How you'll live our values

1. Champion Customer Success

"We win when our customers win."

Every part that leaves this press brake goes into a container CPC customers trust to protect radioactive or hazardous material. Championing customer success means every bend, dimension, and traveler entry supports a container the customer can accept the first time — no surprises.

What this looks like in this role:

• Filter setup and operating decisions through: does this help the customer succeed?
• Anticipate risks to fit, form, and finish and address them before the first hit
• Own the outcome of each part end-to-end — setup, forming, dimensional check, and paperwork
• Surface anything a customer or inspector might flag — dimension, distortion, or documentation — early

"Servant leadership, integrity, and transparency in all we do."

Serving first at this level means leading by example on the floor — safety, quality, and integrity in how you record work — and being transparent with supervisors and teammates when a setup, print, or material is not right.

What this looks like in this role:

• Follow safety, LOTO, and quality procedures even when the schedule is tight
• Record travelers, first-piece checks, and sign-offs truthfully, every time
• Serve teammates by keeping tooling, dies, and consumables ready for the next operator
• Have hard conversations early — about print issues, tooling, or setup — rather than working around them

3. Win, Together

"We are becoming, and we are building, a great team."

The Fabricator II is a reliable teammate the cell leans on. Winning together means the shift moves as one team — mentoring Fabricator I, coordinating cleanly with welding and assembly, and pulling others in on complex layouts.

What this looks like in this role:

• Coach Fabricator I operators with patience and structure
• Coordinate hand-offs with welding, assembly, and QC so parts move without rework loops
• Step in when a teammate is stuck instead of leaving them to struggle
• Assume positive intent and share credit when the cell hits its goals

4. Relentlessly Pursue Excellence

CPC’s customers depend on compliant, defensible containers. Relentless excellence at this level means chasing lower rework, tighter dimensional consistency, and better tooling and bend sequences every quarter — not just doing what you did last year.

What this looks like in this role:

• Refine die selection, bend allowance, and bend sequence based on results, not habit
• Look for opportunities to reduce setups, distortion, and rework on complex designs
• Pursue additional fabrication process training and certifications as opportunities come up
• Challenge “good enough” when a safer or better way to run the bend is obvious

5. Practice Blameless Accountability

"We own the outcome, fix the issue, learn and move forward."

Accountability at Fabricator II means owning your setups, your bends, and your paperwork — and being the first to raise a hand when something is off, so the team can fix the process rather than protect a person.

What this looks like in this role:

• Report your own defects, rework, and near-misses openly and quickly
• Focus on root cause and process fixes when things go wrong, not blame
• Capture what you learned from a bad bend so the next operator does not repeat it

Accept coaching and correction without excuses or defensiveness

Qualifications

• 2+ years of press brake or fabrication experience in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to independently set up and operate a press brake and select the correct dies and tooling
• Intermediate to advanced blueprint reading and GD&T fundamentals, including datums and bend callouts
• Working knowledge of bend allowance and bend radius calculations
• Proficiency with precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, height gauges)
• Overhead crane and rigging certification (or ability to obtain within a defined ramp period)
• Consistent attendance, reliable shift handoffs, and safe work practices

About CPC

• Founded in February 1981 and headquartered in Wilmington, NC, Container Products Company designs and manufactures high-integrity metal containers and waste-processing equipment for the nuclear industry — pioneering the now industry-standard B-12 and B-25 containers that revolutionized radioactive waste handling.
• CPC has grown to become a trusted supplier to nuclear utilities, government facilities, and waste management organizations across the United States and worldwide. The company provides comprehensive solutions — engineering, fabrication, decontamination and waste reduction equipment, shielded storage, and transport packaging — all performed in accordance with our NQA-1 approved Quality Assurance Program.