Machine Operator

Machine Operator

Reports to: Shift Supervisor / Floor Engineer
Industry: Manufacturing
Salary: Kshs. 22,000 – 30,000 gross
Location: Ruiru, Kiambu

About the Role

We are seeking a highly disciplined, detail-oriented Machine Operator to manage the baseline mechanical execution and daily throughput of our production line in Ruiru, Kiambu. Your primary objective is to drive high-speed manufacturing assets safely, managing everything from initial mechanical calibration and raw material feeding to real-time quality audits and shift performance logs. This position bridges practical mechanical maintenance with active volume execution; you will monitor automated conversion processes, diagnose system latency or alignment issues, and perform basic preventative lubrication and tool tightening to prevent production downtime. The role demands a process-focused technical professional—ideally with standard training roots—who can maintain high concentration levels during continuous production runs.

Key Responsibilities

Asset Operation & Throughput Execution

• Configure, calibrate, and start specialized production machinery in strict compliance with operational manuals and shift targets.
• Coordinate the continuous, balanced feeding of raw material inputs into automated processing bays to eliminate blank feeding runs.
• Track mechanical runtime metrics continuously, recording physical batch volumes, line speed variations, and raw material utilization maps.
• Read and interpret control panels to adjust pressure tolerances, heating metrics, or conveyor velocities based on explicit product runs.

Structural Quality Inspection

• Extract production samples regularly at designated intervals, checking dimensional uniformity, thickness metrics, and texture parameters.
• Identify recurring structural blemishes, material tears, or packing defects on the fly, applying immediate calibration corrections.
• Segregate off-specification materials instantly, recording root causes to support broader plant material optimization tracking.
• Deliver accurate quality update reports to the floor team to prevent bulk material loss across multi-stage production shifts.

Preventative Maintenance & Basic Diagnostics

• Perform comprehensive pre-shift inspection walk-throughs, checking fluid parameters, belt tensions, and blade sharpness levels.
• Identify and document subtle mechanical variations, unusual sonic changes, or structural vibration signs before structural breaks occur.
• Execute foundational preventative upkeep tasks, including designated component lubrication, seal cleaning, and simple filter swaps.
• Provide core support to visiting mechanical engineers during heavy diagnostic overhauls, major electrical fixes, or module upgrades.

Floor Safety & Workplace Cleanliness

• Clean mechanical frames and surrounding workstation surfaces diligently at the close of every shift to prevent fiber build-up.
• Secure full, uncompromised utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE), highlighting heavy-wear boots, hearing filters, and masks.
• Comply with corporate lock-out, tag-out safety steps completely during active blockage clearing or tool adjustment routines.
• Track operational downtime events, logging machine status paths and incident resolutions for supervisor visibility.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Entry Criteria

• Academic Foundation: Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plant Engineering, or a matching technical discipline certified by the National Youth Service (NYS) or an equivalent accredited institution.
• Production Longevity: Minimum of 1 to 2 years of active experience operating heavy machinery within a busy manufacturing plant ecosystem.
• Sector Familiarity: Prior operational tenure working inside a high-volume tissue paper manufacturing plant or fast-moving consumer packaging house is highly preferred.
• Diagnostic Intuition: Practical capacity to isolate simple operational mechanical bottlenecks, hydraulic pressure shifts, or tracking guide errors.

Core Physical & Technical Traits

• Detail Focus: Meticulous capacity to monitor high-volume automated runs without losing oversight of small visual variances.
• Team Dynamic: Adaptable team player capable of working harmoniously alongside line packagers and shift supervisors under fixed quotas.
• Physical Adaptability: Fully resilient and comfortable handling regular rotating shift assignments within a bustling industrial zone.

What We Offer

• Modern Infrastructure: Master your engineering skills by handling high-speed, contemporary automation assets within a modern manufacturing house.
• Structured Professional Growth: Build out an excellent portfolio of technical machine certifications and formal plant health and safety training credentials.
• Long-Term Career Track: Establish solid institutional roots that pave clear avenues toward Senior Lead Machinist and Shift Engineering roles.

How to Apply

Please email your CV, noting the exact job title in the subject line. Review of candidate profiles will commence immediately.