Deburr & Finishing Lead

Deburr & Finishing Lead

South Bay Solutions is a high-precision machine shop, making parts for semiconductor, medical devices, and advanced tech hardware. Our tolerances are measured in microns, our equipment is top-of-the-line, and our team is passionate about quality craftsmanship.

The Deburr & Finishing Lead is responsible for supervising daily finishing and detailing activities to ensure machined components meet established quality, cosmetic, and delivery requirements. This role leads a team of finishing technicians, coordinates production priorities, maintains workflow efficiency, and promotes a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with experience in precision manufacturing, deburring, polishing, and cosmetic finishing operations. They possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to motivate teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Team Leadership & Development

• Assign daily work assignments and monitor team performance to ensure completion of production objectives.
• Train, mentor, and support Finishing Technicians on finishing techniques, equipment operation, quality standards, and safety procedures.
• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment that encourages teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching and performance feedback to support employee development and operational excellence.
• Promote adherence to company policies, procedures, and best practices.

Quality & Process Control

• Inspect completed components to verify compliance with customer specifications, workmanship standards, and cosmetic requirements.
• Identify nonconformances and implement corrective actions to maintain product quality.
• Ensure consistency in finishing, polishing, deburring, and detailing processes across all production activities.
• Work closely with Quality and Manufacturing teams to resolve quality concerns and improve process performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects and enhancing productivity.

Production Planning & Workflow Management

• Prioritize finishing activities based on production schedules, customer commitments, and operational requirements.
• Coordinate with Production, Quality, Shipping, and Manufacturing departments to support on-time delivery objectives.
• Monitor workflow status and adjust priorities to maximize efficiency and minimize bottlenecks.
• Ensure production documentation, travelers, and work instructions are properly followed.
• Support departmental productivity goals and schedule adherence.

Equipment & Materials Management

• Oversee proper use, maintenance, and care of finishing equipment, hand tools, polishing systems, and related resources.
• Monitor inventory levels of finishing supplies, abrasives, consumables, and cleaning materials.
• Coordinate replenishment of materials to prevent interruptions to production.
• Maintain clean, organized, and efficient workstations and storage areas utilizing 5S principles.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all company safety policies, OSHA requirements, and environmental regulations.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals, cleaning agents, and finishing materials.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and hazard-free work environment.
• Ensure team compliance with required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards.
• Participate in safety meetings, audits, and corrective action activities.

Experience

• 2–4 years of experience in manufacturing finishing, deburring, polishing, detailing, or precision manufacturing environments.
• Minimum 1 year of leadership, lead, or supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience working in machine shops, aerospace, medical, defense, or precision machining environments is a plus.

Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, and team-building capabilities.
• Knowledge of deburring, polishing, blending, detailing, and surface finishing techniques.
• Understanding of manufacturing workflow, quality standards, and production scheduling.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality…