Heat Treat Operator

Company Overview Wellman Dynamics is a leading magnesium and aluminum sand casting foundry specializing in large, dimensionally complex components for aerospace and defense applications, including rotary-wing, aeroengine, and munitions platforms. The company is a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Company, a leading aerospace and defense focused private equity firm and is investing in the expansion of its Engineering function to strengthen technical depth, tighten process control, and prepare the business for automation and advanced manufacturing investments. Position Summary At Wellman Dynamics, the Heat Treat Operator manages thermal processing for aluminum and magnesium castings to achieve customer-specified material properties. This hands-on role requires precise temperature control, accurate timing, process monitoring, and safe operation of industrial furnaces and quenching systems.

The Heat Treat Operator monitors castings throughout the heat-treatment cycle, makes process adjustments as needed, records processing data, and ensures castings meet requirements for tensile strength, ductility, hardness, shock resistance, and stress relief. The role requires technical precision, sustained focus, physical capability, and a strong commitment to safety and quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Set, read and maintain temperature gauges and furnace controls according to customer specifications and work instructions.
• Prepare and load castings for heat treatment and move them through furnaces at the required times and durations.
• Monitor castings throughout each heat-treatment cycle.
• Perform air, water, or other quenching operations to achieve required cooling rates.
• Record temperature data, timing, and processing parameters for each casting batch.
• Identify and report temperature fluctuations, gauge issues and process deviations.
• Operate electric skid lifts and other material-handling equipment safely.
• Remove, organize, and identify finished castings after processing.
• Maintain safe furnace operations and follow all safety procedures and required PPE practices.
• Support consistent achievement of required material properties.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous heat-treatment or manufacturing experience preferred; on-the-job training is provided.
• Ability to read and follow customer procedures, diagrams, work instructions, and technical specifications.
• Ability to accurately read and interpret analog and digital temperature gauges.
• Ability to set and monitor furnace controls and heat-cycle parameters.
• Strong attention to detail when monitoring temperature trends, timing, and process data.
• Ability to operate electric skid lifts and material-handling equipment safely.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, perform repetitive tasks, and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to occasionally grip or push/pull with up to 80 pounds of force and perform stooping, kneeling and elevated work.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment physical.

Preferred Qualifications

• Heat-treatment certification or related technical qualification.
• Previous experience with aluminum or magnesium thermal processing.
• Experience operating with customer-specific heat-treatment procedures and material-property requirements.
• Experience with electric skid lifts or other material-handling equipment.
• Demonstrated willingness to complete additional training and obtain heat-treatment qualifications.

Success Factors

• Accurate setup and monitoring of furnace temperatures, heat cycles, and quenching processes.
• Consistent achievement of customer-specified material properties.
• Complete and accurate recording of temperature, timing, and processing data.
• Timely identification and communication of temperature issues and process deviations.
• Safe operation of furnaces, skid lifts, quenching systems, and material-handling equipment.
• Consistent adherence to customer procedures, work instructions, safety requirements, and PPE standards.
• Reliable handling, organization, and identification of castings throughout the process.
• Demonstrated technical precision, focus, and problem-solving, reliability, and commitment to quality.