Shell Technician

Doncasters Group; Oxford (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off (PTO)

401(k)

Competitive medical insurance

Job summary

Doncasters in Alabama is seeking a Ceramic Technician to support quality assurance through ceramic testing, slurry adjustments, and shell process audits. The role focuses on maintaining consistent processing, troubleshooting robotic dipping and FactoryTalk systems, and ensuring compliance with engineering specs.

You will work in a dusty, high-precision environment with PPE requirements and a strong emphasis on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience in shell area or manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience with shell dipping processes is preferred but not essential.
• Familiarity with HMIs or industrial control systems is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and hand-eye coordination.
• Ability to identify and troubleshoot problems involving equipment, processes, and raw materials.
• Willing to learn through on-the-job training.

Responsibilities

• Perform ceramic testing and recommend slurry adjustments to maintain process quality and consistency.
• Audit shell process to ensure compliance with procedures and specifications.
• Develop understanding of shell area operations (loading, etching, dipping, takedown, dewaxing, and flash fire).
• Inspect wax clusters to identify defects and ensure quality standards are met before further processing.
• Troubleshoot robotic dipping equipment and FactoryTalk systems to support reliable operations.
• Complete data entry and analysis to monitor process performance.
• Assist with shell trials, process evaluations, and improvements.
• Support slurry preparation and mixing activities and understand slurry formulas and requirements.
• Promote quality, 6S, cost reduction, and continuous improvement while keeping area clean and orderly.
• Carry out other duties to support the team and production objectives.

Skills

Shell area experience

Shell dipping

Robotic troubleshooting

HMI familiarity

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Team player

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

FactoryTalk

Job description

Do you have a keen eye for detail and a passion for quality? Enjoy working with your hands, troubleshooting equipment, and helping improve manufacturing processes?

At Doncasters we have an exciting opportunity for a Ceramic Technician to join our team.

Did you know that every time you take a flight, drive somewhere, or switch on a light, there’s a chance Doncasters has played a part in making that happen?

As a leading international manufacturer of specialist superalloys and high-performance alloy components, we provide critical solutions to some of the world’s most demanding industries, including aerospace, Industrial Gas Turbines, automotive, medical, and other specialist sectors.

With a heritage spanning nearly 250 years, we’ve built a global reputation for technical excellence, innovation, and engineering that performs where it matters most. Today, we operate across 20 sites worldwide, employing almost 3,000 professionals. This includes engineers and production teams to HR, marketing, and other support functions, who are united by a shared sense of purpose.

At Doncasters, we believe in doing things the right way. That means acting with integrity, delivering with commitment, and working as one team to achieve more, together. Whether you’re developing precision-engineered components, running world-class manufacturing operations, or supporting our people and processes, your role is part of something much bigger.

Join us and contribute to a legacy built on performance, precision, and the values that drive us forward - excellence, commitment, teamwork, and integrity.

What we can offer you:

• An interesting and varied field to work in
• An environment where you can learn and grow through ongoing development opportunities
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Competitive 401(k)
• Competitive medical insurance

The Role

As a Ceramic Technician, you will be responsible for conducting technical testing and evaluating ceramic materials and raw inputs to support quality assurance. You will recommend slurry adjustments, support shell process audits and trials, and help maintain efficient robotic dipping operations through troubleshooting robotic systems and FactoryTalk software. You will also support dewaxing and flash fire operations to ensure consistent processing, product quality, and compliance with engineering and customer specifications.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Perform ceramic technical testing and recommend appropriate slurry adjustments to maintain process quality and consistency.
• Conduct audits of the shell process to ensure compliance with established procedures and specifications.
• Develop a thorough understanding of shell area operations, including loading and etching, dipping, takedown, dewaxing, and flash fire.
• Inspect wax clusters to identify defects and ensure quality standards are met before further processing.
• Troubleshoot robotic dipping equipment and FactoryTalk systems to support reliable and efficient operations.
• Complete data entry and analysis to monitor process performance and support continuous improvement.
• Assist with shell trials, process evaluations, and the implementation of improvements.
• Support slurry preparation and mixing activities, maintaining an understanding of slurry formulas and process requirements.
• Promote quality, productivity, 6S, cost reduction, and continuous improvement while maintaining a clean and orderly work area.
• Carry out any other duties as required to support the team and production objectives.

Interested?

If you have any of the below skills, we would love to talk to you about your next career move:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working in a shell area or manufacturing environment.
• Experience with shell dipping processes is preferred but not essential.
• Familiarity with computers, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), or industrial control systems is preferred but not essential.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent hand-eye coordination.
• Ability to identify and logically troubleshoot problems involving equipment, processes, and raw materials.
• Self-motivated, trustworthy, and willing to learn through on-the-job training.

Essential Requirements

This role requires a strong commitment to quality, safety, and production standards. You will be expected to follow engineering and customer specifications, adhere to production schedules, and contribute to reducing cycle times and eliminating non-value-added activities.

The role involves working in a potentially dusty environment, with noise levels in some areas exceeding 85 dB. Physical requirements include prolonged standing, repetitive tasks, close visual inspection and manipulation of wax clusters, and some heavy lifting, pushing, and pulling. Ceramic trees handled in this role may exceed 100 lbs.

Strict adherence to company health and safety policies is required. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn as required, including an aluminized apron, spats, sleeves, high-temperature gloves, safety glasses, and a face shield. Sparks may also be present in the work area.

Equal Opportunities

Doncasters is committed to achieving workforce diversity, and we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, national origin, race, age, sex, gender identity, disability - physical or hidden - sexual orientation, veteran status, religious belief, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We provide a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We encourage all applicants to reach out if they require any support or accommodations to enable them to thrive throughout our recruitment process. Please contact [e-mail].