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

Industrial Melt & Furnace Operator – Aluminum Die Casting (3rd Shift)Up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr) • Cedarburg, WI Area • 3rd Shift • Direct-Hire / Full-TimeCompensation & Earnings: Starting pay up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr baseline depending on experience), pay-for-performance bonus opportunities, 401(k) with company match, and full health/dental benefits.Schedule & Work-Life Balance: 3rd shift schedule (10:00 PM – 6:15 AM) with opportunities to earn additional hours of bonus PTO per year for strong attendance.Work Environment & Company Profile: Join one of the largest independent die casting manufacturers in North America 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, skim molten metal, and pull lab samples to ensure alloy quality for die-casting operations.Strict Requirements & Authorization: Strict job stability required (minimum 2+ years per employer); foundry or heavy manufacturing melt/furnace experience; mobile equipment proficiency; local commute within 45 minutes of Cedarburg, WI; U.S. work authorization.A premier, North American market leader in high-precision die casting is seeking a reliable Furnace Melt Operator to support 3rd 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.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.