CNC Sheet & Plate Cutting Operator

Industrial Fabrication Services (IFS), based in Lake Crystal, Minnesota, is a leading custom metal fabrication facility serving clients across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and worldwide. With an 80,000 square-foot facility and a team of approximately 115 employees, IFS specializes in producing high-quality components for bulk material-handling industries. The company is committed to its core values of Service, Innovation, Respect, Value, and Craftsmanship. As a CNC Sheet & Plate Cutting Operator, you will play a vital role in the first stage of fabrication, operating advanced CNC cutting equipment to produce precise parts that support a wide range of industries. IFS offers a collaborative environment, opportunities for skill development, and a strong commitment to safety and employee well-being.

Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and maintain CNC cutting equipment, including sheet lasers, plasma tables, and waterjet systems, as trained and assigned.
• Read and interpret work orders, engineering drawings, job travelers, cut lists, and specifications to ensure accurate production.
• Load, align, secure, and unload sheet, plate, and other materials using overhead cranes and material-handling equipment.
• Select and verify programs, cutting paths, materials, and machine settings; monitor cutting operations and make adjustments to support quality and material utilization.
• Inspect and measure completed parts to verify dimensions, cut quality, quantity, and material before releasing to the next operation.
• Troubleshoot cutting or equipment-performance issues and communicate concerns that may affect quality, production, or downtime.
• Clean, sort, and stage finished parts for downstream operations, including deburring or other part cleanup as needed.
• Complete production records, material-usage documentation, and job tracking accurately.
• Perform routine machine checks, cleaning, basic preventative maintenance, and consumable replacement, including machine-specific upkeep such as garnet removal and tank cleanout.
• Communicate job priorities, material needs, drawing questions, schedule conflicts, and equipment issues in a timely manner.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area and support other manufacturing areas as needed.

Qualifications

• Ability to read and understand blueprints, drawings, work instructions, and common fabrication measurements.
• Mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn multiple CNC-controlled cutting systems.
• Strong computer skills, including the ability to operate machine controls and production software.
• Ability to accurately use tape measures, calipers, squares, and other basic measuring tools.
• Basic math skills, including common Imperial measurements and decimal equivalents.
• Strong attention to detail, commitment to quality, and ability to work independently once trained.
• Prior experience operating a laser, plasma table, waterjet, CNC machine, saw, or similar equipment preferred; direct experience on all cutting systems is not required.
• Metal fabrication or manufacturing experience and familiarity with sheet and plate materials preferred.
• Forklift and overhead crane experience preferred, or ability to become trained.
• Ability to regularly stand, walk, talk, and hear; occasionally sit, reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 75 pounds.

Benefits

• Competitive wage scale with opportunity for profit sharing after a 90-day introduction period
• 8 paid holidays
• Personal Time Off
• Health Insurance with employer-funded HRA to reduce deductible
• $50,000 Life Insurance Policy — 100% paid by IFS
• Long Term Disability — 100% paid by IFS
• 401(k) Retirement Plan — IFS matches up to 5%
• Optional participation in Health Savings Account and/or Flexible Spending Account
• Optional Health Reimbursement Account
• Optional Dental and Vision Insurance
• Optional Supplemental Life & Disability Insurance
• Optional Group Accident & Critical Illness Insurance