Press Brake Operator

Press Brake Operator
Shift: Monday – Friday: 6:00am- 2:15pm
Location: Bradford
Salary: Up to £38,594.68 per annum

Role Summary
We are looking for an experienced Press Brake Operator to join our production team, working on the manufacture of high-quality sheet metal components. As a Press Brake Operator, you will be responsible for preparing, setting, and operating Press Brake machinery, writing or downloading folding programs, inspecting parts against engineering drawings, and ensuring all work meets strict dimensional and quality requirements.
As a Press Brake Operator, you will support the full folding process from material verification to final inspection, ensuring safe operation, precise forming, and consistent quality. The role requires strong technical understanding, good attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a wider fabrication team.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and gather the correct parts required for folding operations (Op 10 / Op 20).
• Inspect materials to ensure they match the bill of materials and are free from damage.
• Carry out pre-use safety checks on Press Brake machinery and tooling, reporting issues to supervision.
• Protect and handle parts in line with drawings, work orders, and company standards.
• Set up Press Brake tooling (top & bottom tools) accurately for each program, following all safety processes.
• Download or create CNC folding programs, including writing folding sequences when required.
• Operate Press Brake machinery to produce folded components to precise specifications.
• Inspect folded parts to ensure conformance with drawings, tolerances, and quality standards.
• Correct or rework any components that fail to meet specification.
• Identify, tag, and store completed parts in the correct locations following management instruction.
• Ensure safe use of lifting equipment and cranes when moving or turning large fabrications.
• Maintain housekeeping standards around the machine and tooling storage area.
• Monitor your own workflow to ensure production schedules are met.
• Follow safe systems of work, SOPs, and all relevant health & safety procedures.
• Support wider fabrication tasks as needed, in line with business requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Engineering Operative Level 2 or Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Engineering (essential).
• Level 3 Metal Fabricator Apprenticeship or Level 3 NVQ Fabrication & Welding (desirable).
• Minimum 4 years’ experience operating a Press Brake (ideally Bystronic), including apprenticeship.
• Strong ability to write or adjust CNC folding programs.
• Knowledge of SMB Viewer (desirable).
• Skilled in selecting and using appropriate tooling.
• Confident reading and interpreting engineering drawings.Experience handling or moving large, fabricated components.
• Strong understanding of health & safety requirements and safe working practices.
• Understanding of quality processes and working to job cards.

Personal Skills

• High attention to detail and excellent hand-eye coordination.
• Able to meet deadlines and work effectively within production schedules.
• Comfortable working independently or within a team.
• Good verbal communication skills.
• Able to follow procedures, work instructions, and quality standards.
• Good written English.
• Basic IT literacy.

If you're ready to bring your skills to a highly skilled manufacturing team, appl