PLASTICS PROCESS TECHNICIAN APPRENTICE | Injection Molding + Extrusion
WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS
We believe farmers and ranchers are the unsung heroes of our world. At Ritchey Livestock ID, we make a simple product that helps them identify and care for their livestock. It may be a small plastic tag, but to the producer depending on it, quality, durability, and consistency truly matter.
That means our machines need to run well, our processes need to stay controlled, and our people need to care about getting the details right.
We are looking for someone who wants to learn a skilled manufacturing trade.
Plastics experience is not required. We can teach plastics.
What we can't teach as easily is mechanical aptitude, reliability, curiosity, work ethic, and the desire to understand how things work. Our goal is to develop the right person into a skilled Plastics Process Technician capable of independently operating, setting up, maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving injection molding and extrusion equipment.
This isn't a dead-end machine operator position. It is the beginning of a technical career path where greater skill, responsibility, and compensation are earned through demonstrated capability—not simply time on the job.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Working alongside experienced members of our manufacturing team, you will progressively learn how to:
- Safely operate injection molding, extrusion, and auxiliary equipment
- Understand how materials, machines, molds, dies, temperatures, pressures, and other process variables work together
- Recognize process changes and identify quality problems before they become larger issues
- Perform startups, shutdowns, material and color changes, and equipment setups
- Use hand tools, precision measuring equipment, and basic troubleshooting techniques
- Perform preventive maintenance and routine equipment inspections
- Document machine settings, quality checks, and process changes
- Troubleshoot equipment, material, mold, die, and process problems
- Find root causes, reduce scrap and downtime, and improve process consistency
- Progress toward increasingly complex setups and troubleshooting independently
We don't expect you to know these things on Day One. We expect you to want to learn them.
WHO WE NEED
- Reliable. You show up, arrive on time, and can be counted on.
- Mechanically wired. You have a history of fixing, building, maintaining, adjusting, or figuring out mechanical things—even if you have never worked in plastics.
- Curious. When something doesn't look, sound, or work correctly, you want to understand why.
- Coachable. You accept feedback, apply it, and get better.
- Hard working. You understand that becoming technically skilled also requires doing the basics well—cleaning equipment, moving material, inspecting parts, documenting settings, and completing repetitive work correctly.
- Detail oriented. You notice small changes before they become bigger problems.
- Process disciplined. You follow established procedures and never take shortcuts with safety or quality.
WHERE YOUR EXPERIENCE MIGHT COME FROM
We're less interested in the title you've held than in what you've learned to do. Strong candidates might come from:
- Manufacturing
- Automotive or diesel repair
- Farm or ranch equipment
- Industrial maintenance
- HVAC
- Machining
- Welding or fabrication
- Construction trades
- Military mechanical specialties
- Equipment repair
- Robotics or technical programs
- Or simply years of building, fixing, and figuring things out
Injection molding or extrusion experience is a plus but not required.
YOU MAY BE A GREAT FIT IF...
- You've always liked figuring out how things work
- You would rather solve a problem than work around it
- You take pride in becoming genuinely good at something
- You notice when machinery sounds, looks, or behaves differently
- You enjoy learning from people who know more than you do
- You ask good questions
- You're comfortable getting your hands dirty
- You want to build a skilled career rather than simply find your next job
THIS JOB PROBABLY ISN'T FOR YOU IF...
- Attendance or punctuality has been a recurring problem
- You don't enjoy tools, machines, or mechanical problem-solving
- You wait for someone else to solve problems
- You dislike following defined processes
- You resist coaching or struggle to apply constructive feedback
- Cleaning, inspection, documentation, or preventive maintenance feels beneath you
- You want advancement simply because you've been here a certain amount of time
- You're looking for a temporary job
YOUR CAREER PATH
This apprenticeship is designed around a clear technical progression:
Apprentice → Qualified Operator → Skilled Technician → Advanced Technician
Each step brings greater technical responsibility, independence, and earning potential.
Advancement is earned by demonstrating that you can do the work—not simply by putting in time.
WHAT RITCHEY OFFERS
- A defined path for learning a valuable technical trade
- Hands-on training in injection molding and extrusion
- Opportunity to earn greater responsibility and compensation as your skills grow
- A small-company environment where your contribution is visible
- A culture built around accountability, curiosity, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement
- A safe, clean manufacturing environment
- The opportunity to help build the next generation of a 60+ year-old company serving American farmers and ranchers
JOB DETAILS
- Full-time, hourly position
- On-site
- Schedule: 3:30 am - 2:00 pm Monday - Thursday
- Reports to: Manufacturing Manager
- Starting pay: $22–$24/hour based on applicable experience
- Paid holidays
- Vacation eligibility after 30 days
Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
THE RITCHEY MANIFESTO
(part mission, part why, part purpose, part because)
Ritchey Livestock ID is a little company that believes in big ideas; a company that enjoys the grind of getting better each day. We make farm & ranch life easier through superior service and by producing a livestock ID tag that Never Fades.
COMPANY HISTORY
Founded in 1964, Ritchey Livestock ID has served farmers and ranchers for more than 60 years. Our unique dual-colored livestock identification tags are permanently engraved so the identification Never Fades. Today, we're investing in the next generation of Ritchey—our facility, equipment, processes, and people.
Ritchey Livestock ID is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to providing an environment of respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.
Pay: $22.00 - $24.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Paid time off
- Referral program
Application Question(s):
- While it is in the plan for 2027, we do not currently offer health benefits is that ok?
Work Location: In person
