Steel Tube Mill Equipment Operator — South Lyon/Wixom, MI
Direct hire with paid training and a clear path to grow your career.
Picture your first weeks on the floor: you’re learning the rhythm of a high-output steel tubing operation, rotating through hot mill piercing, draw bench sizing, furnace heat-treat, and straightening lines. Your crew counts on you to keep product moving safely and precisely. You’re hands-on, reading tape measures to 1/16 of an inch, adjusting settings, and watching gauges while cranes move material from station to station.
What you’ll earn
- Starting pay: $23.33/hour
- 2nd-shift premium: +$0.60/hour
- 30-day increase: up to $25.73/hour (role-dependent)
Additional compensation
- Annual bonus opportunities
- Profit sharing (based on company performance)
Benefits from day one
- BCBS Medical, Dental, Vision (80% employer-paid)
- 401(k) with company match (up to 8%)
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
- Paid time off and sick time (earned immediately)
- Safety boot allowance: $225 (metatarsal protection required)
About the company
Express Employment is partnering on a direct hire for a leading steel tubing producer serving automotive, industrial, commercial, and defense markets. With dual plants, 180+ employees, and output of roughly 1,700 tons per month via hot and cold forming, this is a heavy industrial, hands-on manufacturing setting that prioritizes safety, stability, and long-term growth.
The work you’ll do
- Set up, operate, and monitor equipment used in steel tube manufacturing
- Support hot mill piercing/forming, draw bench sizing, furnace operations/heat treat, straightening, and cut-off
- Read measurements accurately with a standard tape measure (to 1/16”)
- Maintain product quality, document results, and follow all safety procedures
- Troubleshoot minor issues to keep production running smoothly
- Contribute in a team-based, high-volume production environment
Environment & safety
- Heavy industrial steel facility with heat, dust, noise, and physical work
- Crane-assisted handling; typical manual lifting limited to 30–50 lbs
- PPE provided (hard cap, vest, safety gear); steel toe boots with metatarsal protection required (allowance provided)
- This is a hands-on role — not a “button pusher” position
Schedule
- Training: 1st Shift (7:00 AM – 3:30 PM)
- Ongoing shift: 2nd Shift (3:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
- Overtime: Regular Saturdays as needed, occasional 10–11 hour shifts, no Sunday operations
Training roadmap
- Hot Mill: ~4 months
- Furnace Operator: ~2 months
- Bench Operator: ~1 month
- Straightener Operator: ~1 month
- Crane Operator: ~3 weeks
Direct hire insight: The company hires for attitude, reliability, and mechanical aptitude. After your interview, you’ll be matched to the department that fits you best and trained there.
Career progression
- Move into higher-skilled operator roles
- Grow into maintenance/skilled trades
- Advance toward technical specialist positions
What you bring
- Excellent attendance and dependability
- Comfort working in a physical, industrial environment
- Solid shop math and measurement skills
- Mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability
- Ability to read a tape measure to 1/16 of an inch
Tools, tech, and processes you’ll encounter
- Boom Crane
- Boring Mill (Union)
- Roll Forming Machine (ACS)
- Tube Mill
- Hydraulic Shear / Shearing Machine
- Draw mill
Experience that stands out
- Heavy material handling
- Crane operation
- Precision measurement & inspection
- Foundry environment exposure
- Shop math
- Benching
- Cut-off saw
- Draw mill
- Hot milling
- Industrial furnace operation
- Quality control using a tape measure
- Straightener operation
- Tube mill operations
Ready to get started?
Apply with your resume today and call/text (517) 546-5627 with questions. #HiringSkilledOperators #CareersInTubeMilling #HiringInSouthLyon