Aerospace Production Cell Leader – Precision Machining & Fabrication

Location: Trenton, MI
Company: Steel Tool & Engineering Co. (Aerospace Precision Machining & Fabrication)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Hourly
Shift: 6:00am – 4:30pm

About Steel Tool & Engineering

We manufacture mission-critical aerospace components with exacting standards. Our AS9100-certified and NADCAP-accredited facility delivers quality, reliability, and compliance in precision machining, complex metal fabrication, and welded assemblies.

A Day in the Role

At the start of your shift, you’ll review the production schedule, confirm staffing, and verify machine readiness, materials, and tooling. You’ll open with a focused team huddle—covering safety first, then production goals, quality checkpoints, and any known issues. You’ll assign operators to workstations and clarify priorities so everyone knows what success looks like today.

As production ramps, you’re on the move—walking the floor to observe operations and ensure standard work is followed. You’ll track hourly output, scrap, downtime, and quality results, coaching and supporting operators in real time. Minor issues get solved on the spot (5S cleanups, documentation gaps, small equipment irregularities), while major items—safety risks, customer-impacting defects, equipment failures, or environmental concerns—are escalated quickly with clear communication to Quality, Maintenance, and Supervisors.

Toward the close, you’ll reconcile results vs. targets, document quality and downtime events, and hand off to the next shift or supervisor with crisp notes. Every day, you’ll identify at least one improvement opportunity and participate in continuous improvement using Kaizen, A3 problem solving, and SMART goals—all within our structured 3‑Step Daily Leadership Process.

Responsibilities

• Plan daily workflow: schedules, attainment, staffing, machine readiness, materials, tooling.
• Lead start-of-shift huddles focused on safety, production targets, and quality expectations.
• Assign workstations; align the team to clear priorities and standard work.
• Monitor operations on the floor; verify adherence to established procedures.
• Track hourly output, scrap, downtime, and quality performance.
• Coach, train, and assist operators; provide hands-on support as needed.
• Correct minor issues immediately (5S, documentation, minor equipment/quality concerns).
• Escalate significant issues (safety risks, customer-impacting defects, equipment failures, environmental concerns) promptly.
• Coordinate with Quality, Maintenance, and Supervisors to resolve problems.
• Enforce safety rules, PPE usage, and company policies at all times.
• Document end-of-shift performance; communicate open issues to the next shift/supervisor.
• Drive continuous improvement through Kaizen, A3s, and SMART goal-setting.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in manufacturing (steel, machining, tooling, or related preferred).
• Demonstrated leadership or lead-operator experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Lean (5S, standard work, waste reduction).
• Able to lift 40 lbs and work in a shop-floor environment.
• Basic computer proficiency (production reporting, email, ERP entry).

Benefits

• 100% Medical Paid. If you already have medical coverage and don’t request STE medical insurance, you can receive a medical waiver of $300 per month.
• Dental and Vision Insurance (includes dependents).
• Life Insurance.
• 401(k).
• Paid Holidays.
• Paid Vacations.