Job at a glance
Combustion Technician $26-35/hr 2nd Shift Job Description The Combustion Technician oversees the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all combustion systems within a steel manufacturing plant, including melt shop furnaces, forging furnaces, heat treatment furnaces, and auxiliary heating equipment. This role relies heavily on advanced electrical troubleshooting skills and benefits from prior maintenance or supervisory experience.
The Combustion Technician ensures compliance with environmental and safety regulations, drives optimization of fuel usage and energy efficiency, and provides technical expertise in combustion system maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades while collaborating closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to maximize uptime and product quality. Responsibilities Develop and enforce safe operating procedures for all combustion systems throughout the plant.
Serve as the subject matter expert on combustion, burners, fuel systems, and emissions controls. Monitor and optimize combustion efficiency in melt shop, forging, and heat treatment operations. Implement fuel usage reduction initiatives and energy savings programs to improve overall efficiency. Ensure consistent heating profiles and temperature uniformity to meet metallurgical specifications and product quality requirements.
Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance activities for combustion systems, including burners, controls, gas trains, and refractory components. Lead troubleshooting efforts and perform root cause analysis for combustion-related downtime and performance issues. Coordinate with maintenance and engineering teams on repairs, retrofits, and system upgrades for combustion equipment. Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA 86, and local environmental and safety regulations related to combustion operations.
Manage audits and inspections of combustion systems to maintain regulatory and internal standards. Lead hazard analysis and risk assessments associated with combustion processes and equipment. Identify opportunities for new technologies and process improvements in combustion systems to enhance reliability and efficiency. Partner with engineering to design and implement combustion system upgrades and new installations.
Develop and track key performance indicators for combustion performance, including fuel efficiency, uptime, and emissions. Provide leadership, guidance, and technical direction to cross-functional teams involved in combustion operations and maintenance. Communicate clearly and effectively with operations, maintenance, and leadership to align on priorities, findings, and improvement plans. Essential Skills Minimum of 5+ years of experience working with industrial combustion systems, preferably in steel or heavy manufacturing environments.
Strong knowledge of natural gas systems, industrial burners, combustion controls, and emissions monitoring technologies. Hands-on experience with industrial furnaces, including forging furnaces and heat treatment systems. Advanced electrical troubleshooting skills, particularly related to combustion controls and furnace systems. Demonstrated leadership and team management abilities in a technical or maintenance-focused environment.
Familiarity with NFPA 86 standards, OSHA safety requirements, and EPA environmental regulations. Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in high-pressure situations and during unplanned downtime. Deep technical understanding of combustion principles and industrial furnace operations. Ability to mentor and lead cross-functional technical teams and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Commitment to safety, hazard recognition, and regulatory compliance in a heavy industrial setting. Analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to optimization, diagnostics, and performance monitoring. Clear and concise communication skills for effective interaction with operations, maintenance, and le