Combustion Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Combustion Technician

$26-35/hr

2nd Shift

Job Description

The Combustion Technician oversees the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all combustion systems within a steel manufacturing plant, including melt shop furnaces, forging furnaces, heat treatment furnaces, and auxiliary heating equipment. This role relies heavily on advanced electrical troubleshooting skills and benefits from prior maintenance or supervisory experience. The Combustion Technician ensures compliance with environmental and safety regulations, drives optimization of fuel usage and energy efficiency, and provides technical expertise in combustion system maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades while collaborating closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to maximize uptime and product quality.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enforce safe operating procedures for all combustion systems throughout the plant.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on combustion, burners, fuel systems, and emissions controls.
• Monitor and optimize combustion efficiency in melt shop, forging, and heat treatment operations.
• Implement fuel usage reduction initiatives and energy savings programs to improve overall efficiency.
• Ensure consistent heating profiles and temperature uniformity to meet metallurgical specifications and product quality requirements.
• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance activities for combustion systems, including burners, controls, gas trains, and refractory components.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts and perform root cause analysis for combustion-related downtime and performance issues.
• Coordinate with maintenance and engineering teams on repairs, retrofits, and system upgrades for combustion equipment.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA 86, and local environmental and safety regulations related to combustion operations.
• Manage audits and inspections of combustion systems to maintain regulatory and internal standards.
• Lead hazard analysis and risk assessments associated with combustion processes and equipment.
• Identify opportunities for new technologies and process improvements in combustion systems to enhance reliability and efficiency.
• Partner with engineering to design and implement combustion system upgrades and new installations.
• Develop and track key performance indicators for combustion performance, including fuel efficiency, uptime, and emissions.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and technical direction to cross-functional teams involved in combustion operations and maintenance.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with operations, maintenance, and leadership to align on priorities, findings, and improvement plans.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience working with industrial combustion systems, preferably in steel or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of natural gas systems, industrial burners, combustion controls, and emissions monitoring technologies.
• Hands-on experience with industrial furnaces, including forging furnaces and heat treatment systems.
• Advanced electrical troubleshooting skills, particularly related to combustion controls and furnace systems.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management abilities in a technical or maintenance-focused environment.
• Familiarity with NFPA 86 standards, OSHA safety requirements, and EPA environmental regulations.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in high-pressure situations and during unplanned downtime.
• Deep technical understanding of combustion principles and industrial furnace operations.
• Ability to mentor and lead cross-functional technical teams and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Commitment to safety, hazard recognition, and regulatory compliance in a heavy industrial setting.
• Analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to optimization, diagnostics, and performance monitoring.
• Clear and concise communication skills for effective interaction with operations, maintenance, and leadership groups.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Maintenance and supervision experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment is a strong plus.
• Experience with combustion system maintenance, including burners, gas trains, controls, and refractory repair.
• Experience in furnace, forging, or auxiliary heat treatment operations.
• Mechanical aptitude with experience in assembly, installation, and service of industrial equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, and technical drawings.
• Hands-on experience with installation, repair, and commissioning of combustion and furnace-related systems.
• Strong service orientation and ability to support production teams with timely technical assistance.
• Comfort working with both electrical and mechanical aspects of industrial heating equipment.

Why Work Here?

Employees benefit from a comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance package, along with a 401(k) plan featuring company match and profit sharing to support long-term financial security. The organization offers short-term disability and life insurance coverage, as well as 10 paid holidays and paid time off to promote work-life balance. Team members can take advantage of flexible spending accounts, overtime opportunities, and structured career advancement supported by on-the-job training, creating a stable environment with strong growth potential.

Work Environment

The role is based in a steel manufacturing environment with regular exposure to heat, noise, heavy equipment, and molten metal operations. Team members use appropriate personal protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, flame-resistant clothing, and hearing protection. The position may require rotational presence across different shifts to support troubleshooting activities, maintenance work, and project execution in a dynamic production setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $54080.00 - $72800.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance401(k) with Company Match & Profit SharingShort-Term Disability & Life Insurance10 Paid Holidays & Paid Time Off (PTO)Flexible Spending Account (FSA)Overtime OpportunitiesCareer Advancement & On-the-Job Training

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Aerotek

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.