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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
Offered compensation: $22.50/yr - $26.50/yr
