Braid Operator

Job Details: Job Location: Data Cable - GARDNER, MA, Salary Range: $23.00 - $25.00Hourly, Position Summary

The Braid Operator is a manufacturing position at Data Guide Cable within our wire and cable production environment. This role is responsible for setting up, operating, monitoring, and maintaining braiding equipment used to apply protective, conductive, or reinforcing layers over cable cores. The Braid Operator supports safe, efficient, and high-quality production and is ideal for individuals with strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and an interest in hands-on manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Set up, start up, operate, and shut down braiding machines according to work instructions, customer specifications, and standard operating procedures. 

Mount bobbins, carriers, reels, or packages of fine wire, textile, or shielding material onto machine spindles and braiding heads. 

Thread braid material through machine guides and carriers according to the required braid pattern, coverage, rotation, and construction requirements. 

Adjust machine settings such as tension, speed, traverse, pitch, and take-up to maintain consistent braid quality and cable appearance. 

Operate braiding equipment to apply copper, tinned copper, stainless steel, textile, or other approved shielding or reinforcing materials over cable cores. 

Monitor machine performance during production and make minor adjustments to correct broken ends, tension issues, coverage variation, or other process abnormalities. 

Inspect in-process and finished product for braid coverage, loose ends, gaps, broken wires, surface defects, diameter variation, and overall workmanship. 

Use measuring tools such as micrometers, calipers, gauges, and visual standards to verify product conformance to specifications. 

Load, stage, verify, and return raw materials using proper part numbers, lot numbers, reel identification, and material traceability requirements. 

Accurately complete production reports, quality checks, machine setting records, material usage forms, and other required documentation. 

Perform routine housekeeping, cleaning, lubrication, and basic preventive maintenance on assigned braiding equipment. 

Communicate equipment issues, material concerns, quality defects, or schedule delays to the lead operator, supervisor, maintenance, or quality team. 

Qualifications: Qualifications

Mechanical aptitude with the ability to understand basic machine operation, adjustment points, and production flow. 

Ability to read and follow work orders, production travelers, drawings, specifications, and written or verbal instructions. 

Strong attention to detail and ability to identify visual defects, material issues, and process changes during production. 

Dependable attendance and punctuality in a production-based manufacturing environment. 

Ability to work rotating shifts, overtime, weekends, or holidays as business needs require. 

Basic math skills for measurements, counts, conversions, and production data recording. 

Fine motor skills and manual dexterity for threading, tying ends, handling small wires, and performing repetitive hand work. 

Basic troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to recognize machine, tension, material, and quality issues. 

Effective communication skills and ability to work as part of a team in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. 

Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during a shift. 

Ability to lift, push, pull, or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance. 

Frequent bending, reaching, twisting, manual handling of materials, and repetitive hand or arm motions. 

Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with noise, moving equipment, industrial materials, and required PPE.