Job Description

Operations Manager – Heat Treating

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the development, implementation, and growth of an in-house heat treating operation. This individual will be responsible for evaluating market opportunities, developing heat treatment and case hardening processes, sourcing and commissioning equipment, establishing quality systems, and building a profitable business unit serving both internal and external customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategy for launching an in-house heat treating division.
• Lead implementation of heat treatment processes including carburizing, carbonitriding, nitriding, hardening, tempering, annealing, normalizing, and stress relieving.
• Evaluate, source, purchase, install, and commission heat treat equipment and supporting systems.
• Design facility layout, workflow, operating procedures, and process controls.
• Establish metallurgical testing, quality standards, traceability, and process validation requirements.
• Recruit, train, and lead heat treat technicians and operators.
• Support sales and business development efforts by providing technical expertise and customer solutions.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable industry standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of industrial heat treating experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in case hardening and thermal processing technologies.
• Proven experience with heat treat equipment selection, installation, commissioning, and startup.
• Strong knowledge of metallurgy, furnace operations, process development, and quality systems.
• Experience leading manufacturing teams and capital projects.
• Strong communication, leadership, and project management skills.

Preferred Experience

• API Q1 and ISO 9001 certified manufacturing environments.
• CQI-9 Heat Treat System Assessment requirements.
• Oil & Gas, energy, aerospace, defense, or heavy manufacturing industries.

Building and scaling a heat treat department from startup through full production.