Manufacturing Team Lead - Sheet Metal

Why Protolabs? We are the leaders in digital manufacturing. We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds. We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do. It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.

Join our team as a Manufacturing Team Lead - Sheet Metal! Shift: Monday - Friday (6 am - 2 pm)

Take the lead in a hands-on manufacturing environment where you'll help drive safety, quality, productivity, and team success. The Manufacturing Team Lead coordinates daily shift activities, supports CNC machining operations, and provides technical guidance to ensure production goals are met. This role is responsible for organizing workloads, training and developing team members, promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and partnering with supervisors and cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional operational performance. Ideal candidates are strong communicators, natural problem-solvers, and passionate about helping teams grow while maintaining high standards of safety, efficiency, and quality.

What You Will Do::

• Perform and support all Laser, Punching, Deburring, Countersinking, and Tapping operations to meet production and quality standards.
• Set up and operate equipment by loading programs, performing tool changes, setting tooling, and making machine offset adjustments as needed.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, and accountability by adhering to and enforcing all company safety procedures, quality standards, and housekeeping practices.
• Collaborate with supervisors, team leads, and cross-functional partners to coordinate production activities across shifts and communicate updates during daily and weekly meetings.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize daily workflow to ensure efficient operations and on-time production.
• Establish production schedules and work assignments to achieve operational and throughput goals.
• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements that enhance productivity, quality, equipment performance, and overall efficiency.
• Serve as a technical resource by providing guidance and expertise on manufacturing processes, systems, and equipment.
• Foster a positive team environment built on trust, respect, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Assess training needs and deliver instruction on equipment operation, work procedures, and safety practices.
• Monitor employee performance and provide real-time coaching, feedback, and technical support.
• Motivate team members to achieve productivity targets, quality expectations, and production deadlines.
• Partner with leadership by providing input and feedback for employee performance evaluations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment with a focus on quality, efficiency, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve processes, productivity, and personal performance.
• Follow all company policies, procedures, and operational requirements.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What You Bring::

• High School diploma or equivalent work experience
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing or similar environment
• Previous manufacturing leadership experience preferred
• Exceptional leadership, communication, coaching, and conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams
• Knowledge of production processes, quality controls, and other techniques in the functional areas
• Able to work in a fast-paced, team oriented work environment
• Able to communicate clearly with a wide variety of people
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong problem solving skills

What's In It For You::

• We offer a competitive salary and total rewards package
• We offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:
• Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)
• Dental and Vision
• Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Paid caregiver leave
• You will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours
• 401k with company match and immediate vest
• Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate
• Matching grants through Protolabs foundation
• And More!