Thermoplastic Extrusion Line Technician

Thermoplastic Extrusion Line Technician

Location: Wytheville, VA
Schedule: Rotating Night Shift (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM)

A night on the line — what your shift looks like

You clock in at 6:50 PM, walk the line, and verify that every safety guard, sensor, and interlock is in place. Your first run is queued: material is blended in the Megablender, recipe dialed in on the Maguire, and the Unidyne settings double-checked. You bring the extruder up to temp, perform a quick tooling inspection, and make minor adjustments before the first cut. Throughout the night you log run sheets, complete quality checks with micrometers and UT, verify surface roughness, and keep the work area aligned to 5S standards. You move product to and from annealing, operate PMVs safely, switch rod and plate sizes as orders change, and partner with maintenance/engineering to resolve any hiccups. An apprentice shadows you for part of the shift—you demonstrate setups, explain scrap disposition practices, and model safe, efficient operation. By 7:00 AM, your line is clean, organized, and ready for the next crew.

Core responsibilities

• Run extrusion equipment safely and to SOP: extruders, saws, blenders, and related systems.
• Troubleshoot processing variations and make on-the-fly adjustments to stabilize quality and output.
• Complete accurate production documentation, run sheets, and in-process quality records.
• Set up and operate blending/inspection equipment: Unidyne, Megablender, Maguire Blenders, Ultrasonic scope.
• Manage annealing cycles—load, unload, and anneal per procedure.
• Perform visual tool inspections and minor maintenance to keep lines running.
• Support safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives across the cell.
• Execute equipment setups, changeovers (rod and plate sizes/materials), and scrap control.
• Train apprentice extrusion operators; collaborate with maintenance and engineering as needed.
• Maintain a clean, orderly workspace in line with 5S; operate Powered Motor Vehicles (PMVs) safely.

What you bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years in a manufacturing environment; extrusion experience preferred.
• Ability to read and follow SOPs, Work Instructions, Job Safety Analyses, and Safety Data Sheets.
• Solid mechanical aptitude with basic troubleshooting capability.
• Comfort using measurement tools: tape measure, micrometers, UT, and surface roughness gauges.
• Computer literacy and clear, professional communication.
• Physically able to meet the safe demands of the role; stable work history is a plus.

Why you’ll thrive here

• Hands-on, technical role with pathways to grow in advanced manufacturing.
• Join a team that prioritizes safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Operate industry-leading equipment that directly impacts production success.

Tools and technologies you’ll use

• Extrusion and injection molding equipment; blow molding exposure.
• Blenders and inspection tools including Unidyne, Megablender, Maguire Blenders, Ultrasonic scope.
• Measurement gauges, calipers, and micrometers.

Pay transparency

The starting hourly rate is $20.70 . Actual base pay may vary based on role scope, responsibilities, experience, education/training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, and market/business factors. If authorization is granted to work outside Wytheville, VA, a geographic pay adjustment may apply based on the specific city and state.

Note to agencies

Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCGC) and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party agencies. No fees will be paid for unsolicited candidates. Placement fees are only paid when a firm is specifically engaged by the MCGC Talent Acquisition team and submits candidates through our Applicant Tracking System.

Preferred proficiencies

• Plastic extrusion experience
• Tool/die/mold setup experience