Shop Operations Associate – Entry Level

Position Summary

We are looking for a dependable, mechanically inclined Shop Operations Associate to support the day-to-day operation of our metal distribution and processing shop.

This is an entry-level, hands-on position designed for someone who is willing to learn. Previous metal shop experience is helpful but not required. We will train the right person on our materials, equipment, safety procedures, and order-processing systems.

This is a varied position. A typical day may include pulling customer orders, cutting material, loading a truck, helping a customer at the counter, receiving inventory, cleaning the shop, performing basic equipment maintenance, or preparing an order for delivery.

As skills and experience develop, the employee will be trained on additional equipment and responsibilities, including CNC equipment and more advanced order processing.

Primary Responsibilities

• Pull, verify, stage, process, and prepare customer orders for pickup or delivery.
• Identify and locate steel, aluminum, and other stocked materials.
• Accurately measure material and process cuts according to customer orders.
• Learn to safely operate shop equipment, including band saws and shears.
• Progress into operation of CNC/plasma equipment after demonstrating proficiency with foundational shop processes.
• Load and unload customer vehicles, delivery vehicles, and incoming material.
• Safely move and organize long, heavy, and bulky metal products.
• Operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment after completing required training.
• Receive incoming material and verify products and quantities against receiving documentation.
• Assist with inventory counts, organization, labeling, and material location accuracy.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe shop.
• Sweep and clean work areas, dispose of scrap, empty bins, and keep aisles and equipment areas clear.
• Perform routine equipment inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and basic preventative maintenance as assigned.
• Assist customers at the counter in a professional and helpful manner.
• Learn and use the company's counter order and quoting system.
• Prepare and process quotes, sales orders, packing lists, and other order documentation.
• Verify material dimensions, quantities, cuts, and order requirements before releasing completed orders.
• Assist with opening and closing the shop, including equipment readiness, cleanup, organization, and securing the facility.
• Follow all PPE, equipment, lifting, material-handling, and shop safety procedures.
• Work occasional weekend hours when business needs require.
• Open to make local customer deliveries using company vehicles when needed, if licensed to do so. No CDL is required for this position.
• Perform other shop, warehouse, customer-service, and operational duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Previous metal shop experience is not required. We are willing to train someone who demonstrates the right attitude, reliability, mechanical aptitude, and willingness to learn.

The successful candidate should:

• Be dependable and arrive ready to work on time.
• Be comfortable working in an active industrial/shop environment.
• Be mechanically inclined and comfortable learning to operate equipment.
• Be able to accurately read a tape measure.
• Have basic math skills, including fractions and decimals.
• Follow written and verbal instructions carefully.
• Pay attention to dimensions, quantities, material specifications, and order details.
• Be comfortable using a computer or tablet for order processing.
• Communicate professionally with customers and coworkers.
• Be willing to clean, organize, and perform routine shop work as part of the job.
• Understand that safety takes priority over speed.
• Be willing to learn multiple functions rather than performing only one assigned task.
• Approach the work with a can-do attitude—willing to learn, pitch in, solve problems, and help wherever needed.

Physical & Shop Requirements

This is an active shop-floor position that requires standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and material handling throughout the workday.

Must be able to read, speak, and understand English sufficiently to safely and accurately follow work orders, measurements, equipment instructions, safety procedures, and customer or team communications.

Employees must be able to safely handle materials within their individual capabilities and follow company procedures for heavier or awkward materials.

Long, heavy, oversized, or difficult-to-handle material must be moved using appropriate equipment, including forklifts, cranes, carts, or team lifting when required. Employees are not expected to manually lift material when doing so would create an unsafe condition.

Proper PPE and established equipment and material-handling procedures are required.

Go to tvbmetals.com/apply to get started!