Get ready to grow with us!

Northwest Pipe Company is the nation’s leading manufacturer of water infrastructure products and with over 50 years of experience, we’re just getting started! Our business is growing, and we’re looking for great people to grow with us. We’re immediately seeking a Plasma Table Machine Operator to join our Northwest Pipe team in Houston, TX.

Experience with Thermal Dynamics high definition Plasma Table.

We Offer:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time
• 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match
• Bonus Potential (2x per year)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Opportunities for Career Advancement
• Values-Driven Culture Committed to Diversity, Inclusion, and Safety

Our Values:

• Accountability is evident when we do what we say we are going to do and people accept responsibility for their actions. We do not point fingers and blame others. We own our actions.
• Commitment is not only promising to do something, but actually investing in the necessary effort and actions to make it happen.
• Teamwork is essential for competing in a challenging and constantly changing business environment. Working together across all job functions is critical to achieving our success.

ABOUT THE JOB:

The main job purpose of a Plasma Table Operator is to cut, trim, scarf metal objects with arc-cutting equipment to dimensions, contour, work orders, and layout by performing associated duties.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ability to fully operate assigned CNC plasma cutting platforms which includes setup, run, monitor, troubleshoot and perform preventative maintenance.
• Anticipates, oversees, reviews, and completes setup adjustments to ensure 1st article success.
• Inspecting material to specifications on job traveler and able to make necessary adjustments and tool changes to maintain quality specifications.
• Efficient operation of the numerically controlled burning machine by challenging the capabilities of the machine and maximizing the utilization of the material consumed.
• Troubleshoot faults/failures leveraging understanding of machine programming logic and machine operational parameters and capabilities.
• Ability to change programs, fault diagnosis, troubleshoot, and torch maintenance.
• Responsible for burning various materials as defined by the job orders, verification of burning accuracy while minimizing the effects of wasted materials, and to optimize production, quality, and efficiency.
• Confirm order requirements are met, including the proper selection of job priority, material selection, material alignment, gas flows, speed, and program loading.
• Take a key role in machine upkeep, machine health, and reliability through proactive participation in daily and continual preventative maintenance activities.
• Maintain regular communication with fellow burn table operators and leadership, relaying any relevant information, including material, paperwork, supplies, inventory, quality, productivity, equipment, and personnel issues that have or could impact the machine operation.
• Identify, escalate, issue non-conformance while maintaining focus on minimizing scrap and rework operations.
• Accurately complete necessary paperwork and time sheets to properly manage inventory and job cost.
• Keep personal and common work areas clean and organized.
• Perform other duties and cross-train as assigned by supervision.
• Regularly lift at least 50 lbs.
• Assist with project work as directed by Supervisor and Department Manager
• Comply with all ParkUSA policies, procedures, guidelines.
• Regular, reliable and predictable attendance is necessary in order to perform the essential functions of this position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Able to read, interpret and comprehend blueprint drawings.
• Able to add, subtract, multiply and divide by 10’s and 100’s without the use of a calculator.
• Able to perform mathematical operations of whole numbers and fractions in both standard and metric units of measurements.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-speed environment, follow all operating procedures, and adhere to safe work practices in a continuous improvement focused environment.
• Able to read, write and speak in English language.
• Work professionally, cooperatively and politely in a team environment and with customers.
• Handle multiple tasks, work independently, recognize issues and solve problems.
• Use hands and fingers and have manual dexterity.
• Proficient in safety regulations and quality control related items.
• Must have sufficient visual acuity and clear speech to perform the essential functions of the job effectively.
• Able to learn, organize and prioritize work as necessary.
• Ability to self-manage and solve problems.
• Possess a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Must be 18 yrs old or older.
• Highschool Diploma, GED or equivalent
• 1 years of prior manufacturing experience with a Steel or Aluminum manufacturer preferred; fabrication experience operating complex CNC controlled machines, overhead crane operation, metal processing, and material handling equipment.
• Able to work with and apply mathematical concepts to practical situations.

Work Hours / Shift

• Work hours vary or change based on operational needs
• Must be able to work overtime as required

Full list of anticipated physical demands for this position and detail on our work environment is available on our application portal. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Our organization maintains a drug-free workplace. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successful passing of a drug test and background check.

Northwest Pipe Company is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. Minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Northwest Pipe Company reserves the right to close the position, with or without notice, if a qualified candidate is identified prior to the close date

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to touch; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, and taste or smell.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
• The employee will often have to work outside in the elements to repair equipment
• Employee must be able to work at heights

Project timelines and work volume / deadlines may often require working outside of standard office hours, weekend, or evening work.

Physical Activity

Over 2/3 of the time:

• Standing/Sit: Remain upright in a stationary position, particularly for sustained periods
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in using hand tools, computerized equipment and maintaining machinery
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas and information accurately, in written or diagram form.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive Motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers such as using computerized equipment
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm to use hand tools

Up to 2/3 of the time:

• Walking: Moving about to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another
• Lifting: Raising object from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position (this factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles)
• Stooping: Positions self to 90 degrees (This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.)
• Kneeling/Crouching: Position self to pick up tools and items off floor when cleaning and maintaining equipment

Less than 1/3 of the time:

• Reaching: Grabbing things from a distance above or from the side
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward downward of outward
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, Stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. (This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.)
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. (This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.)

Physical Requirements

Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Visual Acuity

The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform an activity such as: Preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection) using measurement devices, and/or assembly or fabrication of parts at distances close to the eye.

Over 2/3 of the time:

• The worker is required to have close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
• The worker is required to have distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)

Up to 2/3 of the time:

• The worker is required to have peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)
• The worker is required to have depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)
• The worker is required to have the ability to adjust visual focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus

Weather Condition

Over 2/3 of the time:

• The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: protections from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes

Up to 2/3 of the time:

• The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. (Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.)
• The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level
• The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour. (Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.)
• The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals

Less than 1/3 of the time:

• The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities of whole body.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases or poor ventilation.
• The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids
• The worker is required to wear a respirator
• The worker frequently is in close quarters, crawl spaces, shafts, man, holes, small, enclosed, rooms, small sewage and water line pipes, and other areas which could cause claustrophobia

Noise Levels:

Up to 2/3 of the time:

• Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic)
• Loud noise (Examples: metal can manufacturing department, large earth-moving equipment)

Less than 1/3 of the time

• Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic)
• Very loud noise (examples: jack hammer work, front row at rock concert)

Supervision Received:

General Supervision: The incumbent normally receives little instruction on day-to-day work and receives general instructions on new assignments.