Mill and Dryer Controls Operator

Job Type: Full-Time

Shift Schedule: Swing Shift 2p - 10p with OT possible

Salary: $20-$23/hour

** Pre-employment background check and drug screen required.

Lignetics is a leading manufacturer of renewable wood products with over 30 years of experience. We transform recycled wood materials into high-quality products, including wood pellets for home heating and grilling, animal bedding, and wood fiber-based cat litter.

Summary

The Mill and Dryer Controls Operator is responsible for monitoring and controlling key production equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent pellet production. This position operates and adjusts pellet mills and dryer systems, monitors temperatures and material levels, regulates material blends and moisture, performs quality checks, and troubleshoots equipment and production issues.

This role requires strong attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to respond quickly to changing production conditions. Because the position works around heavy automated equipment and is responsible for monitoring critical production and safety systems, the ability to understand and communicate safety information clearly and in real time is essential.

Duties

• Operate and adjust pellet mills and regulate dryer inlet and outlet temperatures according to specifications.
• Monitor material bin levels and make adjustments as necessary to maintain consistent production.
• Regulate material mixtures to achieve optimal pellet moisture and density.
• Monitor and communicate the appropriate ratios of fresh and aged sawdust and wet and dry shavings to maintain required production specifications.
• Monitor pellet moisture and density to ensure finished products remain within established quality standards.
• Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions, spot fires, hot bearings, and other production or safety concerns.
• Maintain appropriate pellet mill feed rates and adjust or change pellet mill rolls and dies as needed.
• Complete daily production reports, including temperature readings, dried material moisture, density checks, average daily readings, total mill hours, natural gas hours, and estimated production tonnage.
• Communicate equipment, quality, and production concerns to supervisors and team members.
• Maintain a safe and organized work area.
• Perform additional duties and accountabilities as required.

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• One to two years of production experience in an industrial or manufacturing setting highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing or production processes preferred.
• Process controls experience is a plus.
• Must successfully complete company forklift certification.
• Ability to lift up to 80 lbs. to waist height and stand for up to 12 hours per day.
• Ability to safely use catwalks and climb ladders connecting catwalks at heights of up to 60 feet in accordance with established safety standards.
• Mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills required.
• Ability to perform basic math calculations.
• Ability to maintain concentration and respond quickly to changing equipment and production conditions.
• Ability to immediately understand and respond to verbal safety commands, audible alarms, and written hazard alerts in English in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in English sufficient to accurately read, interpret, and follow equipment lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, machine operating instructions, production controls, and safety documentation.
• Sufficient English verbal communication skills to clearly and immediately report equipment malfunctions, spot fires, hot bearings, near misses, unsafe conditions, and other safety concerns to supervisors and team members.
• This position works in the immediate vicinity of fast-moving, heavy automated equipment and is responsible for monitoring critical production equipment. Clear, real-time communication and adherence to English-language safety signage, alarms, and procedures are required for workplace safety.

Benefits

• Employee referral bonus program
• 2 weeks of paid time off plus 2 floating holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA and HSA options
• Educational assistance
• Life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• 401(k) with employer match and immediate vesting
• Employee heating pellet program
• Lignetics-branded gear, including an annual pair of work boots and other personal protective equipment (PPE)

Lignetics believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status under state, local, or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

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