Production Operator – Day and Afternoon Shifts

Protocase Inc.; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health benefits

Paid vacation

Training and growth

Productivity Pay

Job summary

Protocase Inc. in Wilmington, NC is seeking Production Operators for Day or Afternoon shifts on-site. No prior manufacturing experience is required, as we provide hands-on training and clear procedures to learn quickly.

Roles span multiple production areas including fabrication, welding, painting, assembly and CNC, with overtime possible based on customer demand. We value reliability, willingness to learn and teamwork.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Ability to work full‑time on-site in Wilmington, NC.
• Availability for assigned shifts and required overtime/weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Operate production tools, machinery or equipment after training.
• Manufacture, finish, assemble, inspect or package custom products.
• Follow established procedures, work instructions and drawings.
• Inspect work to ensure quality standards are met.
• Complete work efficiently while maintaining quality.
• Identify problems and ask for support when needed.
• Adjust to changing customer requirements and production priorities.
• Maintain a clean, organized and safe work area.
• Learn additional production areas as skills grow.

Skills

Hands-on production

Safety procedures

Willingness to learn

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Position Title: Production Operator – Day and Afternoon Shifts

Department: Production

Company: Protocase Inc.

Location: Wilmington, NC, USA

Work Arrangement: On-Site

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Shift: Day Shift or Afternoon Shift

Level: Entry–Intermediate

Location: Wilmington, NC

Available Shifts

• Day Shift: 7:00 AM–3:00 PM
• Afternoon Shift: 3:00 PM–11:00 PM
• Assigned shifts are consistent; however, overtime and weekend work is scheduled based on customer demand.
• Due to a primary work location of Wilmington, NC, this position is only open to those legally eligible to work in the United States.

Are you the kind of person who gets a lot done — and gets it done right? Do you like staying busy, learning quickly and seeing the results of your work? If so, we may have the opportunity for you!

At Protocase Inc., we are looking for Production Operators to join our growing Wilmington, North Carolina operation.

Previous manufacturing experience is helpful, but it is not required for most production areas. We have established procedures and hands-on training to teach you the work.

This position might be right for you if you're interested in...

Being Rewarded for Strong Performance: We believe productive employees should benefit from the value they create.

Hands‑On Training: Learn practical manufacturing processes through established procedures and hands‑on instruction.

Learning Multiple Production Skills: Build experience across different areas of manufacturing as your abilities grow.

Growing Based On Ability: Strong performance and skill development can lead to more technical work, greater responsibility and higher earnings.

Full Transparency: We Work a Little Differently Around Here.

This isn't just another job where you punch in and punch out. We come to work every day because we strive to earn a living in a meaningful way. Too many people exist without finding joy or purpose in their work, and we believe that's just wrong. After all, we spend at least a third of our lives working—so why not create workplaces where people want to come to work in the morning and feel good when they leave at the end of the day?

At Protocase, your effort matters. We believe people who are productive, dependable, and committed to quality should have the opportunity to build skills, take on greater responsibility, and benefit from the value they create.

Protocase specializes in custom sheet metal enclosures, panels, and parts for engineers and innovators worldwide, built with unmatched speed and quality. We take the impossible and make it possible for some of the brightest minds on the planet.

Established in 2001, Protocase Inc. provides custom manufacturing solutions to engineering, design and research organizations around the world.

We support more than 16,000 customers, including Boeing, L3, Raytheon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, NASA and MIT.

Protocase is proudly ISO 9001 certified and AS9100D registered, reflecting the high standards of quality and consistency required in the industries we serve.

To learn more about working with us, visit: https://workdifferently.info/

About the Role

As a Production Operator, you may work in one or more manufacturing areas depending on your experience, aptitude, training progress and the needs of the operation.

Production areas include:

• Fabrication & Forming
• Welding & Metal Finishing
• Paint & Surface Preparation
• Printing & Specialty Processes
• Assembly
• Inspection & Quality
• CNC

Most production areas can be learned through our hands‑on training and established procedures.

Many operators are able to begin running independently within one to two weeks, depending on the production area and the individual.

CNC is one of our production stations and involves more technical work than many of the others. Some employees grow into CNC as their skills develop, while candidates with CNC or manufacturing experience, strong mechanical aptitude or other relevant technical skills may be placed into CNC from the start.

What You'll Do

Depending on your assigned production area, your responsibilities will include:

• Operating production tools, machinery or equipment after completing training.
• Manufacturing, finishing, assembling, inspecting or packaging custom products.
• Following established procedures, work instructions and drawings.
• Inspecting your work and ensuring it meets required quality standards.
• Completing work efficiently while maintaining quality.
• Identifying problems and asking questions when support is needed.
• Adjusting as customer requirements and production priorities change.
• Maintaining a clean, organized and safe work area.
• Learning additional production areas as your skills grow.

About You

At Protocase, we place high importance on the attitude, aptitude and accountability of our candidates.

You do not need to arrive knowing every process. What matters is that you are reliable, willing to learn and committed to doing quality work efficiently.

You may be a strong fit if you

• Have worked toward production targets, cycle times or output goals.
• Know how to balance speed with quality and accuracy.
• Are comfortable following detailed procedures, work instructions or drawings.
• Learn new equipment, machines or processes quickly.
• Have been recognized for reliability, productivity or quality.

Experience in manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, welding, painting, inspection, CNC or machine operation is helpful, but not required for most production areas.

We are also looking for people who show up ready to work, take accountability for their results, accept feedback, learn from mistakes and work well with others.

High accountability does not mean never making a mistake. It means acknowledging problems, learning from them and following through on solutions.

What You Need (Required Qualifications)

Everything listed in this section is considered required to perform this role successfully.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience

• Previous manufacturing experience is not required for most production areas.

Technical Skills

• Ability to safely perform hands‑on production work throughout the shift.
• Willingness to follow safety procedures and use required protective equipment.

Certifications / Licences

• N/A

Other Requirements

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Ability to work full‑time on-site in Wilmington.
• Availability for an assigned shift and required overtime or weekend work.

What Would Be Considered an Asset (Nice-to-Have Qualifications)

The following qualifications are not required, but would be considered an asset.

• Previous experience in manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, welding, painting, inspection, CNC or machine operation.
• Strong mechanical aptitude or other relevant technical skills.
• Experience reading technical drawings or work instructions.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first year, you will:

• Become proficient and increasingly independent in your assigned production area.
• Consistently complete work efficiently while meeting required quality standards.
• Demonstrate strong attendance, reliability and accountability.
• Follow established procedures, safety requirements and work instructions consistently.
• Identify issues early, ask questions when needed and take ownership of resolving problems.
• Respond positively to coaching and demonstrate measurable improvement over time.
• Develop additional production skills and, where appropriate, begin training in other areas.
• Contribute positively to team productivity and help others succeed.

Why Us?

Compensation: Perform More. Earn More.

Starting base rate: $13.00 per hour, plus Productivity Pay.

The $13.00 hourly rate is the guaranteed floor — not the earning target.

We do not believe an efficient, productive operator should be stuck at the same flat hourly rate regardless of what they produce. That is why we use Productivity Pay.

Your Productivity Pay is driven primarily by:

• Efficiency: How effectively you complete the work assigned to you.
• Quality: Whether that work is completed accurately and to our standards.

Each quality job you complete contributes to your Productivity Pay.

More than $20.00 per hour is a common total earning level among productive operators when Productivity Pay is included, and some operators earn more.

We designed the system to do two things at once: put more money in the pockets of productive employees and maintain the high quality standards required by our customers, including those in aerospace and other demanding industries.

You do not have to choose between speed and quality.

We reward both.

This is not about rushing or cutting corners. Work still has to meet our standards.

CNC involves additional technical skill and responsibility and therefore comes with higher compensation.

Actual earnings vary based on individual results and the work being performed. Our full Productivity Pay model will be explained during the hiring process.

Watch our short Productivity Pay video to see how the model works:

https://vimeo.com/1195758165

In addition, you can look forward to:

• 401(k): Access to a 401(k) retirement plan to help you build toward your long‑term financial goals.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, life and group insurance are available after two months of full‑time employment. Protocase covers 50% of health insurance premiums for you and eligible dependents.
• Paid Vacation: Receive two weeks of paid vacation to start, increasing with service.
• Training and Growth: Hands‑on training with opportunities to learn additional production areas and develop technical skills.
• Additional Benefits: Wellness support, gym membership, community discounts and team events.

If you’re productive, dependable and proud of doing quality work, we want to meet you.

At Protocase, better performance doesn’t just get noticed — it shows up in your paycheck.