Team Leader - Blanking Press​/Weld

Guardian West, 601 Guardian Drive, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America

Posted Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 6:00 AM

Flex-N-Gate is a leading manufacturer and supplier of components for the automotive industry, recently ranked 10th of the 150 Top North American Suppliers in “Automotive News.” A growing and vital company, Flex-N-Gate provides a great opportunity for hard-working and skilled individuals.

Job Title: Team Leader
- Blanking Press/Welding

Starting Pay Rate: 24.00 (after 6 months $25.00)

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM, with mandatory overtime as needed

Reports To: Blanking/Weld/Press Supervisor

Job Summary: We are seeking a skilled and motivated Team Leader to join our team. This role primarily responsible for ensuring the success of our team on 2 nd shift. This role requires strong leadership skills, critical thinking skills, experience in manufacturing (preferably operation a press), and working in a team setting.

• Ensure department employees understand and follow quality standards for our products.
• Guide team members each day to help meet production goals.
• Watch over presses during use. Some presses are run by one operator, others by two.
• Ensure parts don’t get stuck in the machine and check that finished parts are made correctly as they go into baskets.
• Clear Scrap from Machine: On single-operator presses, push scrap metal out using a long rod. This involves bending and using up to 50 pounds of push force.
• Create and attach labels to baskets of finished parts.
• If parts feed incorrectly, cut out the material by hand and throw it away. May need to use a hand grinder.
• During machine changeovers, move conveyor belts on wheels (requires up to 44 pounds of push/pull force). Use hand tools like wrenches to tighten nuts and bolts.
• For stacked parts, collect from conveyor, bend at the waist, and place parts into baskets (up to 30 pounds push force, parts weigh up to 20 pounds).
• Occasionally operate a forklift or overhead crane (certification and training provided).
• Ability Make quick decisions, juggle multiple tasks, and follow through on assignments.
• Be willing to learn and use the Mainti Mizer computer system.
• Show leadership, work well with others, and communicate clearly with team members.
• General clean-up in the area – using broom, dust pan, mopping and other duties as assigned. Additional duties as assigned

Shift is 8 hours. May work overtime up to 10-12 hours. Two 10-minute breaks/ shift and 20-minute meal break.
Employees get paid the entire time they are clocked in and do not clock out for breaks, if taken on campus!

• Must be able to communicate in English
• Must be able to demonstrate understanding health and safety compliance training programs and departmental work instructions that are written in English
• Use of basic hand tools such as wrenches and pliers
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

• Must wear safety toe boots, hearing protection, safety glasses, Kevlar cut protection clothing and work apron
• Must be able to use both hands for safe operation of forklift. Steering wheel with levers controlled by right hand. Constant pedaling with right foot.
• Operator must have full range of motion of the neck and spine so that operator can look behind forklift while driving backwards and look up and down with moving products
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.
• Employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is required to push, pull, reach and lift above head and below shoulder level. The employee must be able to carry bumpers weighing up to 63.5lbs for as far as 15-25 feet.
• The work environment is representative of conditions typical for a manufacturing facility. Guardian West is not a climate-controlled facility. Safety precautions must always be followed to reduce exposure to hazards
• Exposure to moving mechanical parts, wet/humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles, and loud environments
• Occasional exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and…