Location: Waukegan/Gurnee Area⏰ Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 5:00 AM – 3:30 PM, or
Weekend shift 5:00AM - 5:30PM Friday, Saturday Sunday
🌐 Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
🔎 Ludlow uses E-Verify to confirm work eligibility in the U.S.
Position Summary
The Press Brake Lead is responsible for monitoring, scheduling, and leading department employees to produce parts that meet customer quality standards, production requirements, and safety expectations. This role ensures equipment is set up efficiently, production data is accurately reported in the ERP system, and processes are continuously improved to meet expected run rates. The Lead also plays a key role in employee training, preventative maintenance coordination, and fostering a positive, team-oriented work environment.
Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesThe essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Set up press brake equipment to meet production demands generated by the ERP system.
Assign daily work and manage workflow for department employees.
Review and validate employee reporting of run rates and quantities in the ERP system.
Monitor production performance and correct processes when expected rates are not achieved.
Measure, adjust, and verify machine settings to ensure parts meet customer specifications.
Monitor product quality using appropriate testing and inspection methods.
Coordinate and manage preventative maintenance schedules to ensure equipment operates according to manufacturer specifications.
Report machine downtime and coordinate necessary repairs.
Provide daily department and machine uptime reports.
Train employees on quality standards, safety procedures, and proper machine operation.
Resolve process and production issues efficiently.
Promote safety, environmental responsibility, and continuous quality improvement in accordance with company policies.
Directly supervises and leads Press Brake Operators.
Education & Experience
Required:
High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of 5 years of experience supervising employees.
5–10 years of experience setting up and programming press brake equipment.
Preferred:
Experience in metal fabrication.
Ability to read, understand, and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, product and component specifications, data sheets, and procedure manuals.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- IRA with company match
- Life insurance, short- and long-term disability
- MetLaw, LifeLock, EAP, critical illness, hospital indemnity & accident insurance
- PTO, holiday pay & floating holidays
Skills Required
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum of 5 years supervising employees.
- 5-10 years of experience setting up and programming press brake equipment.
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, product specifications, and procedure manuals.
- Bilingual (Spanish)
- Experience in metal fabrication.
What We Do
Ludlow Manufacturing, Inc. is a U.S. metal-fabrication company serving OEM manufacturers. The company provides laser cutting, forming, CNC machining, tube bending, welding (including robotic welding), and engineering and quality-control services. Operating from a single Waukegan, Illinois facility, Ludlow is ISO 9001:2015-registered and woman‑owned; it emphasizes continuous investment in technology, tight quality systems, fast turnaround, and close customer collaboration.
