CNC Press Brake Cell Lead

Company: JIREH METAL PRODUCTS

Location: Grandville, MI

Reports To: Production Manager

Interfaces With: Production, Engineering, Quality, Material Handling, Maintenance

A day in this role

You arrive on the floor with the day’s build plan in hand. You walk the press brake area, verify machine readiness, tooling status, and material availability, then huddle with the team. Clear direction is set: priority jobs first, complex setups assigned to the right operators, and cross-training opportunities noted. You program and prove out a new CNC press brake job, validate the first-piece with calipers and angle gauges, and capture the setup so others can repeat it. Throughout the shift you troubleshoot forming challenges, adjust bend programs, and maintain quality, safety, and flow. As production progresses, you keep Plex and Job Web up to date—quantities, labor, scrap, and downtime—so the schedule stays accurate. You finish by documenting lessons learned and planning improvements for tomorrow.

Role purpose

• Lead a small team to run the press brake area safely and efficiently.
• Set up, program, and operate CNC press brakes to meet customer specifications and Jireh Metal Products quality standards.
• Create and maintain job documentation, machine programs, tooling requirements, and standardized setup instructions.
• Develop press brake processes and team capabilities to drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and growth.

What you’ll lead and do

Leadership and team development

• Provide daily direction, technical guidance, and coaching for Press Brake Operators and assigned team members.
• Align priorities with the production schedule, staffing, equipment status, tooling, and materials.
• Train and cross-train on programming, setups, blueprint reading, inspection, safety, and quality standards.
• Assess operator skills, identify training needs, and build backup coverage for critical jobs and equipment.
• Communicate production status, delays, quality issues, employee concerns, and resource needs to the Production Manager.

Press brake operations

• Program, set up, and operate CNC press brakes per work instructions and schedule.
• Interpret engineering drawings, work orders, bend data, and manufacturing specifications.
• Select, install, and verify correct punches, dies, and tooling for each run.
• Handle complex setups and support operators with new jobs, troubleshooting, and process tuning.
• Perform first-piece and in-process inspections; adjust as needed to hold quality and efficiency.

Documentation and setup development

• Build and maintain machine programs, tooling lists, setup sheets, inspection requirements, and job documentation.
• Establish clear, repeatable setup procedures that enable consistent, conforming output.
• Organize programs and ensure correct document and program revisions are used.
• Update documentation to reflect engineering changes, tooling changes, production feedback, and lessons learned.

Quality

• Inspect parts with calipers, angle gauges, tape measures, fixtures, and other precision tools.
• Ensure the team understands print requirements, key characteristics, and inspection criteria.
• Escalate quality concerns, tooling issues, equipment problems, material defects, and process variation.
• Stop production when requirements are not met; support containment, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.

Equipment and tooling

• Perform routine equipment checks and confirm required maintenance is completed.
• Keep tooling in good condition; report damaged or worn tools.
• Troubleshoot machine, programming, setup, and tooling issues.
• Maintain organized machines, tooling, and work areas.

Safety and workplace organization

• Model safe work practices and follow company safety policies and procedures.
• Ensure machine safeguards, proper material handling, and required PPE are used.
• Keep work areas clean and organized using 5S principles.
• Identify and report unsafe conditions, equipment, and practices.

Systems and documentation

• Accurately complete and review production records and required paperwork.
• Use Plex, Job Web, machine programming systems, and other manufacturing software as needed.
• Record production quantities, labor, scrap, downtime, setup time, and quality data with accuracy.

Continuous improvement

• Lead initiatives in safety, quality, setup reduction, productivity, tooling organization, and error-proofing.
• Support new product launches, process development, and production readiness.
• Partner with Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Material Handling to elevate press brake performance.
• Perform additional tasks to meet customer, operational, and business needs.

Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Proven experience programming, setting up, and operating CNC press brakes.
• Ability to read blueprints, work instructions, and manufacturing specifications.
• Hands-on experience with precision measuring and inspection tools.
• Capability to lead, train, and provide technical support to team members.
• Consistent safe work practices in a manufacturing environment.

Preferred

• 5+ years of CNC press brake experience.
• Prior lead, supervisory, or team training background.
• Experience creating machine programs, setup documentation, and standardized work instructions.
• Background in metal fabrication manufacturing.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Strong commitment to safety and quality.
• Deep knowledge of CNC press brake programming, tooling, setups, and forming techniques.
• Effective leadership, coaching, communication, and problem-solving.
• Organized, able to set priorities, and coordinate a small team.
• Skilled at creating clear, repeatable job documentation.
• Dependable attendance and work habits.

Physical requirements

• Frequent standing, walking, bending, twisting, and reaching.
• Good hand–eye coordination and manual dexterity.
• Sustained visual attention while operating machinery and inspecting parts.
• Regularly lift up to 25 pounds.
• Perform repetitive tasks throughout the workday.

Work environment

• Manufacturing setting with moving machinery and equipment.
• Exposure to noise, dust, oils, grease, sharp edges, and changing temperatures.
• Manufacturing hazards require strict adherence to safety procedures.

Personal protective equipment

• Safety glasses required.
• Hearing protection required.
• Additional PPE as required by task or area.

Key performance indicators

• Safety performance.
• Team leadership, training, and development.
• Quality performance and first-pass yield.
• Productivity and schedule attainment.
• Setup efficiency and machine utilization.
• Accuracy and completeness of job documentation.
• Reduction of scrap, rework, downtime, and recurring issues.
• Housekeeping and 5S compliance.
• Adherence to work instructions and operating procedures.

You should be proficient in

• GD&T
• CNC Tooling
• CNC Programming
• CNC Machine Setup & Changeover
• Packaging Experience
• Machine Geometry & Alignment
• Precision Measurement & Inspection
• Meets Physical Requirements
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Experience in a Manufacturing Environment
• Blueprint Reading

Machines & technologies you’ll use

• 2D Drawings (SolidWorks)
• Press Brake
• CAD Software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD)
• ERP Software (Plex)
• Measurement Gauges
• Calipers and Micrometers