Benefits:- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Bonus based on performance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Fiber Laser & CNC Press Brake Operator
Location: Austin, TX (on-site)
Type: Full-time
Pay: $25-30/hr depending on experience
Schedule: Mon–Fri, [6:30 AM – 3:30 PM], occasional overtime
About the shop
We're a specialty architectural metals fabricator and laser cutting job shop in Austin. Our work is high-mix, low-volume: custom stair and railing components, screens and perforated panels, brackets and connectors, gates, cladding, furniture, and one-off architectural pieces — plus outside cut work for other shops, designers, and contractors.
Most of what leaves here is visible in a finished building. Cut quality and bend accuracy aren't just numbers on a print; they show. We're looking for an operator who takes that personally.
What you'll do
- Run our fiber laser day to day: load material, select and verify cut programs, set assist gas and parameters, monitor cuts, unload and sort parts
- Nest jobs for yield and cut time, sequence work across multiple orders, and manage remnants
- Set up and operate the CNC press brake: select tooling, load programs, dial in bend sequence, first-article check, run production
- Develop and verify flat patterns; correct bend deductions and adjust for springback
- Maintain first-article and in-process quality checks with calipers, angle finder, square, and tape
- Perform daily and weekly machine maintenance: nozzles, protective windows, focus check, slats, chiller, filtration, brake lubrication
- Read shop drawings and cut lists, track job numbers, and flag drawing errors before you cut
- Keep the material racks, remnant inventory, and work areas organized
- Communicate clearly with the shop lead about job status, material shortages, and problems
Required qualifications
Fiber laser
- 2+ years hands-on operating a CNC fiber laser (Bystronic, Amada, Trumpf, Mazak, LVD, Prima, Durma, or similar)
- Comfortable selecting and adjusting cut parameters by material and thickness — power, speed, frequency, focus, pierce settings
- Working knowledge of assist gases: when to run oxygen, nitrogen, or shop air, and what it costs you in edge quality and cycle time
- Nozzle changes, focus calibration, protective window inspection and replacement
- Troubleshooting dross, burn-in on corners, tip-ups, incomplete cuts, and head crashes — and knowing which is a parameter problem vs. a consumable problem
- Nesting/CAM experience (cyp nest, cyp cut prefered, Lantek, SigmaNEST, Radan, BySoft, Metalix, Tops/AP100, or the OEM equivalent)
- Experience cutting mild steel, stainless (304/316), and aluminum (5052/6061); brass, copper, or Corten is a plus
CNC press brake
- 2+ years on a CNC press brake with multi-axis backgauge (Delem, Cybelec, ESA, or OEM control)
- Tooling selection: punch profile and radius, V-die opening, gooseneck and offset tooling, hemming and radius tooling
- Solid grasp of bend allowance, bend deduction, K-factor, inside radius, and minimum flange
- Bend sequencing on multi-hit parts — knowing what order keeps the part off the ram and out of the gauge
- Tonnage awareness and material grain direction
- Springback correction and consistent angle control
- Handling finish-sensitive material: protective film, urethane die protection, clean gloves, no drag marks on architectural surfaces
General
- Reads and works from shop drawings, weldment details, and cut lists with tolerances around ±1/32"
- Familiar with DXF/DWG files; can spot open contours, duplicate lines, and bad geometry before it hits the machine
- Comfortable with a tape measure, calipers, combination square, and digital protractor
- Able to work independently on short runs and one-offs without a production line telling you what's next
- Reliable attendance and a real safety mindset
Nice to have
- SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Inventor sheet metal — flat pattern export and light drawing cleanup
- TIG or MIG welding, grinding, and finishing experience
- Familiarity with architectural or ornamental metalwork and finish/patina sensitivity
- Forklift certification; overhead crane or vacuum sheet lifter experience
- OSHA 10 or 30
- Machine maintenance beyond daily PM — optics, drives, filtration
- Bilingual English/Spanish
Physical requirements
- Lift up to 50 lbs regularly; team-lift and mechanical assist for full sheets
- On your feet most of the shift, with bending, reaching, and material handling
- Shop environment: noise, dust, fumes, and Texas summer heat. PPE provided and required.
What we offer
- $25-30/hr depending on demonstrated skill, with review at [90 days]
- Health insurance / PTO / paid holidays / retirement
- Overtime available
- Well-maintained equipment and material handling that doesn't wreck your back
- Varied, interesting work — you'll see your parts in finished buildings around Austin
How to apply
Send a short note about your experience and, if you have them, photos of parts you've cut or bent to info@austinlaserfab.com. Tell us which machines and controls you've run.
We'd rather see you run a test part than read a resume.
Sarabi Studio LLC is an equal opportunity employer.