Press Brake Operator– $25-$28/hr 1st shift
Employment Type: Temp-to-Hire
About CloudRay
CloudRay, based in East Windsor, NJ, is a trusted staffing partner with 25+ years of industry experience, connecting skilled talent with leading companies across the U.S. We specialize in industrial, logistics, IT, hospitality, and skilled trades staffing — ensuring candidates find stable opportunities with growth potential.
Position Summary
The Brake Press Operator is responsible for setting up and operating CNC press brake equipment to form sheet-metal components used in detention locks, hollow-metal products, security systems, and other engineered solutions for correctional facilities.
This position reviews engineering drawings and work orders, selects and installs appropriate tooling, determines bend sequences, adjusts machine settings, and inspects completed components. The Brake Press Operator works closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance to maintain product quality, dimensional accuracy, production efficiency, and safe equipment operation.
Because products support the safety and security of correctional facilities, consistent workmanship, dimensional accuracy, and compliance with approved procedures are essential.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities- Set up and operate CNC press brake equipment to form sheet-metal components according to engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions.
- Review work orders, drawings, and production documents to determine material requirements, tooling, bend sequences, dimensions, tolerances, and part orientation.
- Select, install, align, inspect, and remove punches, dies, and related press brake tooling.
- Load or select approved machine programs and verify that the correct program revision is being used.
- Calculate or apply bend allowance, bend deduction, material thickness, tooling clearance, and spring back compensation.
- Establish an efficient and accurate bend sequence for each component.
- Load, position, support, and remove sheet-metal components during forming operations.
- Verify material type, thickness, condition, and orientation before beginning production.
- Conduct program prove-outs and first-piece runs before releasing parts for continued production.
- Monitor machine operation and make authorized adjustments to ram depth, back-gauge position, bend angle, pressure, and other applicable settings.
- Verify bend angles, flange dimensions, hole locations, overall dimensions, and part orientation.
- Perform first-piece and in-process inspections using calipers, micrometers, angle gauges, height gauges, tape measures, fixtures, templates, and other approved measuring equipment.
- Identify and correct routine tooling, setup, alignment, programming, and forming issues.
- Recognize common forming defects, including incorrect bend angles, dimensional variation, cracking, distortion, marking, twisting, bowing, and improper part orientation.
- Identify, label, and segregate nonconforming material according to quality procedures.
- Stop production and notify the appropriate supervisor, Quality representative, Engineer, or Maintenance employee when conditions could affect safety, quality, equipment, or production.
- Maintain organized machine programs, setup information, tooling records, and production documentation.
- Ensure that only current, approved engineering drawings, programs, and work instructions are used.
- Recommend approved improvements to tooling, bend sequences, setups, material handling, cycle times, and manufacturing processes.
- Assist Engineering and Quality personnel with prototype work, first-article production, process development, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
- Safely handle raw material, work-in-process, finished parts, tooling, and fixtures.
- Use cranes, hoists, carts, forklifts, or other material-handling equipment when properly trained and authorized.
- Accurately record quantities produced, scrap, rework, downtime, inspection results, and other required production information.
- Perform assigned equipment inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and basic preventive-maintenance activities.
- Maintain the work area according to housekeeping and 5S expectations.
- Meet established safety, quality, productivity, schedule, scrap, and efficiency requirements.
- Protect company programs, drawings, specifications, processes, and other confidential or proprietary information.
- Perform other related manufacturing duties as assigned.
Setup and Technical Responsibilities- Select press brake tooling based on material type, thickness, bend radius, flange dimensions, and drawing requirements.
- Inspect punches, dies, holders, guards, and related tooling before installation and use.
- Complete tooling changes and verify that tooling is properly seated, aligned, secured, and suitable for the operation.
- Enter, retrieve, modify, test, and save authorized CNC press brake programs.
- Determine bend sequences that maintain part accuracy and prevent interference between the part, tooling, machine, and operator.
- Calculate required bend adjustments using measurements from first-piece and in-process inspections.
- Verify that machine program revisions correspond with current engineering revisions.
- Document standard setups, tooling selections, bend sequences, critical dimensions, and inspection points.
- Troubleshoot equipment alarms, program errors, back-gauge issues, tooling problems, and forming inconsistencies within the employee's training and authorization.
- Escalate complex electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, control-system, or equipment problems to Maintenance, Engineering, the equipment manufacturer, or other authorized personnel.
- Assist with training other operators on approved setups, programs, tooling, inspection requirements, and safe operating practices.
Safety Responsibilities- Follow all safety policies and equipment-specific procedures.
- Complete required press brake and machine-specific training before independently setting up or operating equipment.
- Wear required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety footwear, hearing protection, and task-appropriate gloves.
- Follow machine-guarding, lockout/tagout, electrical-safety, hydraulic-safety, tooling-handling, and material-handling procedures.
- Never bypass or disable guards, light curtains, interlocks, two-hand controls, presence-sensing devices, or other engineered safety controls.
- Keep hands and other body parts clear of dies, pinch points, moving back gauges, and other hazardous areas.
- Use approved tools and material-handling methods when positioning or removing parts near the point of operation.
- Verify that guards, tooling, controls, and safety devices are properly installed and functional before operating the machine.
- Follow approved procedures when changing tooling, clearing jams, making adjustments, cleaning equipment, or performing maintenance.
- Inspect lifting devices, carts, tooling, and material-handling equipment before use.
- Promptly report unsafe conditions, damaged tooling, equipment malfunctions, injuries, and near misses.
- Operate forklifts, cranes, hoists, and other powered equipment only when trained and authorized.
- Maintain awareness of sharp edges, heavy or unstable material, pinch points, moving machinery, and other manufacturing hazards.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and understanding of sheet-metal fabrication.
- Ability to set up and operate CNC press brake equipment.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, geometric dimensions and tolerances, bills of material, work orders, and technical specifications.
- Working knowledge of bend allowance, bend deduction, material thickness, tooling selection, bend radius, springback, and bend sequencing.
- Ability to select, install, align, and inspect press brake tooling.
- Ability to develop, retrieve, test, troubleshoot, and adjust CNC press brake programs.
- Ability to use calipers, micrometers, angle gauges, height gauges, tape measures, and other precision measuring equipment.
- Ability to perform accurate shop mathematics involving decimals, fractions, angles, dimensions, and tolerances.
- Understanding sheet-metal properties and how material type, grain direction, thickness, tooling, and forming pressure affect the finished part.
- Ability to recognize forming defects and determine when tooling, setup, program, material, or machine corrections may be required.
- Ability to maintain accurate, organized, and revision-controlled setup and production documentation.
- Ability to troubleshoot routine mechanical, programming, setup, and forming problems within authorized limits.
- Basic computer skills and the ability to navigate machine controls and production systems.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing consistent, conforming components.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and consistently apply established procedures.
- Ability to communicate technical and production information clearly to supervisors, coworkers, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance personnel.
- Ability to work independently, prioritize assignments, and support changing production requirements.
- Dependable attendance and punctuality.
Education and ExperienceRequired:- High school diploma, GED, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing experience.
- At least one year of experience operating CNC press brake equipment, CNC fabrication machinery, or comparable metal-forming equipment.
- Experience reading engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, and manufacturing work instructions.
- Experience using precision measuring equipment to inspect fabricated components.
- Basic knowledge of shop mathematics, including fractions, decimals, angles, and dimensional calculations.
Preferred:- Two to three years of CNC press brake setup and operating experience in a production environment.
- Technical diploma, certificate, or coursework in metal fabrication, machining, manufacturing technology, industrial technology, or a related field.
- Experience programming CNC press brake equipment.
- Experience with TRUMPF press brakes or comparable CNC press brake equipment.
- Experience forming carbon steel, stainless steel, coated metals, or other materials used in manufacturing operations.
- Experience manufacturing close-tolerance components, hollow-metal products, locking-device components, or security-related assemblies.
- Familiarity with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement methods.
- Forklift, crane, hoist, or other material-handling certification.
Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, and directly relevant experience may be considered.
Training Requirements
The employee must successfully complete all training required for assigned duties, which may include:
- Press brake setup and operation.
- CNC machine controls and programming.
- Tooling selection, installation, and inspection.
- Machine guarding and point-of-operation safety.
- Lockout/tagout procedures.
- Quality inspection and nonconforming-material procedures.
- Material-handling equipment.
- Personal protective equipment and hazard communication.
- Program revision control and production-documentation procedures.
- Work instructions, and production systems.
Physical Requirements
The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Stand and walk for extended periods throughout the work shift.
- Frequently use hands and fingers to operate machine controls, handle components, position material, install tooling, and use measuring instruments.
- Frequently reach with the hands and arms and perform repetitive hand and upper-body movements.
- Regularly bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, twist, and reach when setting up equipment, changing tooling, loading material, and inspecting parts.
- Frequently lift, carry, and position materials, components, fixtures, or tooling weighing up to 50 pounds independently.
- Use team lifting or approved mechanical assistance for items exceeding safe individual lifting limits.
- Push and pull carts, material containers, fixtures, and other production equipment.
- Maintain sufficient balance and coordination to support, position, and control sheet-metal components during forming operations.
- Possess sufficient near vision, depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to distinguish part conditions by reading drawings, operate machine controls, verify measurements, and inspect finished components.
- Possess sufficient hearing, with or without accommodation, to recognize alarms, equipment conditions, and workplace instructions.
- Performing work requires coordinated hand and foot movements and sustained attention around operating machinery.
Work Environment
Work is primarily performed in a metal-fabrication and manufacturing environment. The employee may be exposed to:
- Operating machinery, hydraulic systems, and moving mechanical components.
- Press brake tooling, pinch points, and point-of-operation hazards.
- Sheet metal, fabricated components, tooling, fixtures, and sharp edges.
- Noise, vibration, metalworking substances, and temperature variations.
- Heavy, long, or irregularly shaped materials and components.
- Powered industrial trucks, carts, cranes, hoists, and other material-handling equipment.
Client uses engineering controls, machine guarding, light curtains, safe-work procedures, material-handling equipment, and personal protective equipment to manage workplace hazards.
Core Competencies- Safety awareness
- Quality and precision
- Mechanical aptitude
- Set-up and machine-operation proficiency
- Productivity and efficiency
- Analytical problem-solving
- Documentation and revision control
- Teamwork and communication
- Reliability and accountability
- Continuous improvement
- Commitment to security and safety mission
Performance Expectations
Successful performance in this position includes:
- Completing safe, accurate, and repeatable machine setups.
- Producing formed components that meet engineering and quality requirements.
- Maintaining accurate setup, production, and inspection documentation.
- Using current, approved engineering drawings, programs, and work instructions.
- Identify and resolve routine forming and setup problems promptly.
- Reducing preventable scrap, rework, setup time, and machine downtime.
- Meeting reasonable productivity and schedule expectations.
- Properly caring for machines, tooling, fixtures, and measuring instruments.
- Communicating safety, quality, tooling, and equipment concerns promptly.
- Maintaining dependable attendance and professional workplace conduct.
Schedule & Pay
Benefits (through CloudRay)
Weekly pay
Health insurance
Incentives and performance-based bonuses
Referral bonuses
Temp-to-hire career growth potential
Location Advantage
Job is commutable from Decatur (35810, 35811, 35816) Madison, AL 35758 and Athens (35611).