Senior Punch Press Operator

Title: Senior Punch Press Setup Operator

Location: Greater Baltimore, Maryland
Department: Production
Reports To: Department Manager
Compensation: $34.00 - $42.00/hour
2nd Shift Differential: Additional 10%

Position Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Punch Press Setup Operator to support a high-volume aerospace/defense/automotive precision metal stamping operation in Essex, Maryland.

This is an advanced setup and production role for an experienced stamping professional who can independently install production dies, establish press and material-feed setups, run first pieces, inspect parts to print, troubleshoot production issues, and maintain a stable process throughout the production run.

The successful candidate will have substantial hands-on experience with punch presses and metal stamping operations and will be comfortable taking ownership of complex setups with minimal supervision. This individual will also serve as an experienced technical resource for less-tenured operators and work closely with Tool & Die, Engineering, Quality, and Production personnel when tooling or process issues arise.

This is not a Tool & Die Maker position. The primary responsibility is setting up and operating stamping equipment and getting production tooling to consistently produce conforming parts.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

·         Independently set up and operate punch presses and related metal stamping equipment used to manufacture high-volume precision components.

·         Install, align, and remove metal stamping dies during production changeovers.

·         Establish press settings and material-feed parameters for new and existing production jobs.

·         Set up and adjust coil, strip, and/or stock feeding systems to ensure proper material advancement through the die.

·         Load and feed production material into stamping equipment according to established job requirements.

·         Perform complex production setups and make necessary adjustments to achieve dimensional and quality requirements.

·         Run first pieces and verify that parts meet print, work instruction, and customer specifications before continuing production.

·         Read and interpret engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, GD&T, job travelers, setup documentation, and work instructions.

·         Perform in-process and first-piece inspection using calipers, micrometers, pin gauges, indicators, optical comparators, CMMs, and other applicable inspection equipment.

·         Monitor part quality throughout production and make appropriate press, feed, and process adjustments to maintain conformance.

·         Diagnose stamping and production problems involving material feed, press settings, alignment, dimensional variation, part quality, and equipment performance.

·         Recognize tooling-related problems and work with Tool & Die personnel to identify and correct die wear, damage, alignment, or other tooling issues.

·         Support die tryouts, production trials, new part launches, and process improvement activities as required.

·         Monitor equipment performance and identify conditions that could contribute to excessive downtime, scrap, poor part quality, or unsafe operation.

·         Perform routine press maintenance, inspections, and daily safety checks.

·         Recommend improvements to setups, manufacturing methods, tooling interfaces, and production processes.

·         Maintain accurate production documentation, inspection records, job travelers, setup information, and maintenance logs.

·         Train and mentor less-experienced press operators and setup personnel in proper setup, operation, inspection, troubleshooting, and safety practices.

·         Collaborate with Production, Tool & Die, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance teams to resolve manufacturing issues and improve production performance.

·         Follow established safety procedures, manufacturing standards, quality requirements, and company policies.

Required Qualifications

·         High school diploma or equivalent.

·         Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in metal stamping, punch press setup/operation, or a closely related high-volume manufacturing environment.

·         Advanced experience independently setting up punch presses for production.

·         Experience installing and changing metal stamping dies.

·         Experience setting and adjusting material-feed systems used with stamping presses.

·         Ability to independently take a stamping job from setup through first-piece approval and stable production.

·         Strong understanding of metal stamping processes and press operation.

·         Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, and GD&T.

·         Strong dimensional inspection skills using calipers, micrometers, pin gauges, and other precision measurement equipment.

·         Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on troubleshooting abilities.

·         Ability to identify whether a production issue originates with the press, feed system, material, setup, or production tooling.

·         Experience working with steels, stainless steels, aluminum, hardened alloys, and/or other metals used in precision stamping.

·         Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while supporting a high-volume production environment.

·         Ability and willingness to train and mentor less-experienced operators.

Preferred Qualifications

·         Experience with progressive-die stamping operations.

·         Experience with high-speed and/or coil-fed stamping presses.

·         Experience setting up servo feeds, straighteners, uncoilers/decoilers, or related material-handling equipment.

·         Experience performing first-article or first-piece inspection.

·         Experience with optical comparators and/or CMM inspection equipment.

·         Experience supporting die tryouts and troubleshooting stamping tooling in conjunction with Tool & Die personnel.

·         Advanced machining, stamping, or manufacturing technology training.

·         Experience working within an ISO or AS quality-controlled manufacturing environment.

Skills & Competencies

·         Advanced punch press setup and operation

·         Metal stamping and forming

·         Die installation and changeover

·         Material-feed setup and adjustment

·         Production troubleshooting

·         Blueprint and GD&T interpretation

·         Precision measurement and inspection

·         Mechanical aptitude

·         Root-cause problem solving

·         Quality-focused production

·         Training and mentoring

·         Continuous improvement

·         Safety awareness

Benefits include:

·         Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

·         401(k) with Company Match

·         Quarterly Bonus Plan

·         Paid Time Off

·         Paid Holidays

·         Paid Sick Leave

·         Short-Term Disability

·         Long-Term Disability

·         Life Insurance

·         Employee Referral Program

·         Tuition Reimbursement for eligible programs

·         Employee Assistance Program

·         Paid Jury Duty

CalTek is a manufacturing, technical, engineering and IT consulting firm that has expanded its business operations from its headquarters in San Diego, throughout all of California and into Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Washington. CalTek has staffed positions with global companies such as Siemens, Parsons, and Illumina but also works with startups with 10 employees.