Furnace Melt Operator High-Pressure Aluminum Foundry (1st Shift)

Furnace Melt Operator High-Pressure Aluminum Foundry (1st Shift) Up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr) Cedarburg, WI Area 1st Shift (6:00 AM 2:15 PM) Direct-Hire Pay & Incentives: Starting pay up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr baseline depending on experience) + pay-for-performance bonus opportunities, 401(k) with company match, full health/dental benefits, and opportunities to earn additional hours of bonus PTO per year for strong attendance. Work Pattern/Schedule: Dedicated 1st Shift schedule (6:00 AM 2:15 PM, Monday Friday) providing convenient daytime routine stability. Environment & Company Profile: Direct-hire seat with one of North America's largest independent die casting manufacturers; ISO-certified facility featuring exceptional stability (40% employee tenure over 10+ years) and premier tier-one OEM partnerships. Core Functional Scope: Operate and maintain industrial melting furnaces, charge raw materials (ingots, sows, internal scrap), skim molten metal, and pull lab samples to ensure exact alloy quality for high-pressure aluminum die-casting operations. Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires strict job stability (minimum 2+ years per employer), foundry or heavy manufacturing melt/furnace experience, mobile equipment proficiency, US work authorization, and a local commute within 45 minutes of Cedarburg, WI. A premier, North American market leader in high-precision die casting is seeking a reliable Furnace Melt Operator to support 1st shift foundry operations. Responsible for tapping, charging, and skimming melting furnaces, this seat is vital for providing continuous, high-quality molten metal to high-pressure aluminum die-casting cells. Joining an ISO-certified facility where 40% of the team boasts over a decade of tenure, this direct-hire position offers excellent hourly compensation, long-term stability, strong 401(k) matching, and structured career development paths in an employee-centric workplace. What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities) Operate & Charge Furnaces: Set up, load, and operate industrial melting furnaces with raw ingot, sows, and internal scrap metal according to strict melt specifications. Tap & Skim Molten Metal: Tap furnaces as directed by leadership and skim impurities from molten metal, taking care to maintain strict temperature and cleanliness standards. Pull Samples for Quality Analysis: Remove liquid metal samples, label them, and submit them to the metallurgy lab for chemical composition testing and alloy verification. Perform Basic Furnace Maintenance: Clean furnaces, burner wells, and metal transfer equipment; perform basic mechanical troubleshooting and preventative maintenance work orders. Operate Material Handling Equipment: Safely operate powered industrial forklift trucks and overhead electric hoists to transport ingots, sows, containers, and finished product. Track Production & Documentation: Count, weigh, and record material quantities moved on daily production logs while maintaining accurate attendance and quality reporting. Enforce Safety & 5S Standards: Follow all OSHA safety rules, strict Lockout/Tagout protocols, proper PPE requirements for hot metal environments, and 5S workplace organization. What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications) Job Stability Required: Demonstrated career stability with a strict requirement of at least 2+ years of tenure at each previous employer. Foundry/Melt Operations Background: Prior experience operating industrial furnaces, melting aluminum/zinc/magnesium alloys, or working in a heavy industrial foundry/metalworking environment. Mechanical & Math Skills: Solid mechanical aptitude, basic math proficiency for weighing and counting materials, and the ability to operate material handling equipment. Commutable Radius: Must reside within a 45-minute maximum commute of the Cedarburg / Greater Milwaukee, WI area. Education & Authorization: High School Diploma or GED required; must be fully authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills) Die Cast & Mold Theory: Working knowledge of high-pressure aluminum die-casting processes, vacuum systems, or molten metal thermal management. Quality Systems Knowledge: Experience operating within ISO/TS or IATF 16949 quality systems and applying 5S methodology on the shop floor. Forklift & Hoist Certification: Hands-on experience operating heavy-capacity forklifts, overhead bridge cranes, or specialized ladle hoists.