Title: Tooling Operator
Location: West Columbia, SC
Pay Rate: $24/hr
Schedule: 1st Shift (Mon-Fri 7a till 3:30p)
Hire Type: Contract to Hire
Benefits: Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision), PTO, and more!
We are seeking a skilled and motivated Tooling Operator to join our team in West Columbia. This role functions as support for the Tooling Shop with hands-on fabrication, assembly, and light machining tasks. The Tooling Operator will play a key role in producing and maintaining custom parts, fixtures, and racks used on the assembly floor, as well as assisting with re-machining components for maintenance and production support. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with mechanical aptitude, shop experience, and a passion for working with tools and machinery.
Job Duties:
•Work within the Tooling Shop to fabricate and assemble parts, tools, fixtures, and equipment to support production operations.
•Operate hand tools and power equipment such as band saws, table saws, miter saws, and other shop machinery.
•Perform light machining using manual mills and lathes to produce or modify metal and plastic components.
•Interpret mechanical prints, blueprints, and work instructions to complete projects accurately.
•Assemble custom fixtures, racks, and parts used on the assembly floor.
•Assist in re-machining parts or components for the maintenance department as needed.
•Maintain an organized and safe workspace while following all shop and company safety protocols.
•Collaborate with engineers, maintenance, and assembly teams to fulfill tooling and production needs.
•Perform basic maintenance on tools and equipment to ensure proper functionality.
Qualifications:
•High School Diploma or GED required; Technical degree or trade certification in machining, manufacturing, or related field preferred.
•Minimum 1 year of shop experience using hand and machine tools.
•Experience in automotive, welding, manufacturing, or aerospace industries is highly desirable.
•Familiarity with manual mill and lathe operations preferred.
•Ability to read and interpret mechanical prints and schematics.
•Basic knowledge of CAD or design software is a plus.
•Strong mechanical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
•Reliable and team-oriented with a commitment to quality and safety.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
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Sterling Engineering, Inc.
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.