Job Purpose:

Now is a great time to join Nopak, a leader in fluid power located in the Greater Milwaukee Area. As our privately held business undertakes a significant growth initiative, we are looking for a hands-on Quality Technician to work on our shop floor. This role reports to the Engineering Manager. This is a shop-based role. You will spend your day at the machines and the inspection bench — measuring parts, checking first articles, verifying setups, and working alongside machinists to catch problems while the job is still running rather than after it ships. Nopak builds hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders in a high-mix, low-volume environment, so the work changes constantly and the judgment of the person doing it matters. The ideal candidate understands machining and knows how to measure a part correctly. You can read a print and its tolerances, select the right gage for the feature, take a repeatable measurement, and explain to a machinist why a dimension is out and what is likely causing it. You are comfortable telling someone their part is not right, and equally comfortable helping them fix it. You will own day-to-day inspection and measurement, the calibration of gages and measuring equipment, and the inspection documentation that makes quality repeatable — work instructions, inspection templates, and first article records. You will support the Engineering Manager on root cause analysis and corrective action when quality escapes occur. We pride ourselves on helping energetic, ambitious employees thrive in our entrepreneurial and fast-paced culture. If you are looking for the chance to learn and make an impact, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

Inspection & Measurement Perform in-process, first article, and final inspection on machined, welded, and assembled parts against print requirements. Select and use the correct measuring equipment for each feature — micrometers, calipers, bore and depth gages, height gages, dial indicators, gage blocks, thread and pin gages, and surface plate setups. Take repeatable, defensible measurements and record results accurately; know when a reading is questionable and re-verify rather than pass it along. Verify machine setups and first pieces before a run is released, working directly with the machinist and Shop Supervisor. Inspect incoming material and supplier parts against purchase and print requirements; document and communicate nonconformances. Perform final inspection prior to shipment and confirm the product matches order and print requirements. Identify, tag, and segregate nonconforming material; document the disposition and follow it through to closure. Machining & Print Fluency Read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T, including datums, positional tolerance, runout, and surface finish callouts. Understand CNC milling and turning operations well enough to connect a dimensional problem back to a probable cause — tool wear, fixturing, workholding, thermal growth, program error, or operator technique. Work alongside machinists at the machine, not from an office; make inspection a part of the production conversation rather than a gate at the end of it. Support the Manufacturing Engineering team with dimensional data during machine and process prove-outs. Provide feedback to Engineering on tolerances or callouts that are impractical, unmeasurable, or repeatedly problematic on the floor. Gage Control & Calibration Maintain the gage and measuring equipment inventory; track location, condition, and calibration status. Perform or coordinate calibration on schedule; maintain calibration records and remove out-of-tolerance equipment from service immediately. Recommend gaging, fixtures, and inspection methods that make critical features faster and more reliable to check. Train machinists and assemblers on correct use of hand gages and basic measurement technique. Documentation & Standard Work Develop and maintain inspection templates, check sheets, and standardized work instructions for recurring parts and processes. Keep quality documentation current, controlled, and available at the point of use on the floor. Record inspection results and quality data in the ERP system accurately and on time. Prepare quality reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing inspection data; surface trends rather than just individual failures. Support customer documentation requirements, including certifications and inspection records, as requested. Problem Solving & Corrective Action Support the Engineering Manager on root cause analysis for quality escapes, customer returns, and recurring internal defects. Gather and present the measurement evidence behind a problem — what was out, by how much, on which features, and across how many pieces. Participate in corrective action development and verify that the fix actually held after implementation. Track scrap and rework by cause and bring the patterns forward to Engineering and the Plant Manager. Continuous Improvement & Safety Contribute to continuous improvement activity on the floor, including work standardization, error-proofing, and inspection method improvement. Support and sustain shop floor organization (5S) in the inspection area and across the plant. Follow all OSHA standards and Nopak safety protocols; work safely in and around operating machinery and overhead cranes. Speak up when something is wrong — on a part, a process, or a safety condition — and follow through until it is addressed. Flex schedule to off shifts or weekend coverage as production demands require. An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum 2 years of experience in a machine shop or manufacturing environment in a quality, inspection, machining, or setup role. Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T. Hands-on proficiency with precision measuring equipment — micrometers, calipers, bore gages, height gages, dial indicators, gage blocks, and thread and pin gages. Working knowledge of CNC machining, including milling and turning operations and basic machine shop theory. Ability to document inspection results clearly and maintain accurate records. Functional computer skills, including Microsoft Office; ability to enter and retrieve data in an ERP system. Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to raise a quality issue with a machinist, a supervisor, or an engineer and be heard. Knowledge of occupational hazards and the safety precautions required in a manufacturing setting. Willingness and preference to spend the workday on the production floor rather than in an office.

Preferred Qualifications:

Associate's degree or technical certificate in Quality, Manufacturing, Machine Tool Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience earned on the floor. Experience with CMM programming or operation. Experience owning a gage calibration program. Familiarity with ISO or equivalent quality standards and quality management system documentation. Experience with root cause analysis methods and corrective action processes. Experience in fluid power, hydraulics, or pneumatics. Experience with welding, assembly, test, or paint inspection. Experience writing work instructions or inspection templates used by others. Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Physical and Mental Demands:

This position is based on the manufacturing floor. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to handle objects, tools, controls, and an overhead crane; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts in an environment that includes noise, coolant, metal chips, and variable temperature. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel-toe shoes are required while in manufacturing areas.

Pay:

$27.50 - $30.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Work Location:

In person