Team Lead

Steel Tool Engineering; Trenton (MI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Paid vacation

Job summary

Steel Tool & Engineering in Trenton, MI is seeking a Team Lead to coordinate daily production, drive efficiency, safety, and continuous improvement on the shop floor. You will lead huddles, assign operators, monitor metrics, and coach teammates to meet targets and standards.

With 2+ years of manufacturing experience and lean knowledge, you’ll lift 50 lbs, perform basic ERP tasks, and leverage leadership skills to guide a high-performance team. Preference given to those with prior lead roles.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of manufacturing experience, ideally in steel, machining, tooling or similar environments.
• Working knowledge of Lean principles (5S, standard work, waste reduction).
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and work on a shop floor.
• Basic computer skills for emails, production reports, and entering data into the ERP.
• Preferred: experience in a leadership or lead-operator role.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily shift huddles and coordinate schedules, staffing, machine readiness, and material availability.
• Assign operators to workstations and ensure understanding of expectations and PPE usage.
• Walk the floor, monitor daily operations, and track metrics (output, downtime, quality, scrap).
• Address safety, operational, or mechanical issues and coach operators; escalate major problems as needed.
• Review shift performance against targets and communicate open issues to the next shift.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Lean principles

Lifting 50 lbs

ERP data entry

Leadership experience

Communication

Tools

ERP system

Job description

Now Hiring: Team Lead at Steel Tool & Engineering in Trenton, MI

Pay: $22.00 - $24.00/hour, based on experience | Schedule: Full-time, 6:00 am to 4:30 pm

Benefits:

• 100% company-paid medical (if you already have medical coverage and don't request STE insurance, you can receive a $300/month medical waiver)
• dental and vision insurance (including dependents)
• life insurance
• a 401(k)
• paid holidays
• and paid vacation

Who You Are:

Our Team Lead coordinates the daily production activities to support operational efficiency, operator safety, and continuous improvement. You'll follow a structured 3-step daily leadership process to ensure company quality standards and customer expectations are met. We're looking for a proactive problem solver and hands-on leader.

What You’ll Bring:

• 2+ years of manufacturing experience (ideally in a steel, machining, tooling, or similar environment)
• Working knowledge of Lean principles (5S, standard work, and waste reduction)
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and work in a shop-floor environment
• Basic computer skills for sending emails, creating production reports, and entering data into the ERP
• Preferred - Experience in a leadership or lead-operator role

Team Lead Priorities:

You’ll set the tone for successful workdays by strategically reviewing and coordinating schedules, staffing levels, machine readiness, material availability, and similar workflow needs. Leading huddles at the start of the shift, you’ll motivate your team members, communicate production targets, set quality expectations, and address any known issues or safety concerns. Then, you’ll assign operators to workstations, make sure they understand their expectations, and ensure they wear PPE.

Throughout the shift, you’ll walk the floor, monitor the daily operations, and track performance metrics (hourly output, downtime, quality, scrap, etc.). If you notice any safety, operational, or mechanical issues, you’ll quickly address the problem and provide the appropriate coaching or training to operators. If major issues occur (safety risks, equipment failures, environmental concerns, etc.), you’ll elevate the problem and coordinate with internal quality, maintenance, and supervisory teams to ensure swift resolution. At the end of the shift, you’ll review performance results versus targets, identify areas for improvement, and communicate open issues to the next shift’s supervisor. Our Team Lead's efforts drive short- and long-term excellence!

Ready to Join Us?

At Steel Tool & Engineering, we don't just build precision aerospace components-we build careers. Specializing in brazed honeycomb assemblies for turbine engines in both commercial and military markets, we're proud to be a one-stop shop where innovation meets craftsmanship. What makes us different? Our commitment to system-driven, data-backed processes that ensure top-tier quality, productivity, and delivery. We support our customers through every stage of new product development, and we do it with a team that feels more like family. If you're looking for a workplace where your skills are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly matter, Steel Tool & Engineering is the place to be.

Must have the ability to pass a background check and drug screening test