Are you curious about where your next career step could take you? The manufacturing industry might just be the adventure you didn't know you were looking for.
Whether you're fresh out of high school or simply craving a change, the world of manufacturing offers more than just jobs—it offers opportunities to shape your own path. At Airline, we believe in more than traditional career tracks; we empower our employees to build careers that fit their passions and skills.
In this article, we'll explore some of the many pathways available in the manufacturing sector, what skills you'll need to thrive, and why this dynamic industry could be your perfect fit. Ready to start exploring your options?
In this Post
High School to Manufacturing: Building Blocks of a Rewarding Career | Careers Requiring a College Degree: Reaching New Heights | Your Career, Your Journey | Additional Resources
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Charting Your Path in Manufacturing
High School to Manufacturing: Building Blocks of a Rewarding Career
The manufacturing industry offers a wide range of entry points, whether you’re fresh out of high school or looking for a career change, even if you don't have a college degree. From hands-on roles that help you learn as you go to more specialized positions, there’s a place for everyone to start building their future.
Below are some examples of career pathways available in the manufacturing sector that do not require a college degree.
Machinery Group Floor Mechanic
As a Machinery Group Floor Mechanic, you'll be building the foundation—literally and metaphorically—for a successful career in manufacturing. With each component you assemble, you're adding another piece to the puzzle of your career, gaining valuable hands-on experience and technical know-how that will open doors to future opportunities.
This role is more than just assembling parts; it’s about understanding how different systems work together, honing your skills, and laying the groundwork for advancement in the industry. Every task you complete contributes to your growth, making you an essential part of the bigger picture of manufacturing.
Main Responsibilities:
- Read hydraulic and electrical circuit and general arrangement drawings
- Understand a bill of material and its relation to a drawing
- Layout and assemble hydraulic components using handheld tools
Requirements:
- High School diploma or GED
- 2-5 years' experience reading hydraulic, electrical circuit, and general arrangement drawings
- Welding and painting experience
Warehouse Associate
For those interested in logistics, the Warehouse Associate role is like being the navigator of a great ship. You'll ensure that everything flows smoothly, building your skills in inventory management, organization, and efficient process handling. You'll be at the core of ensuring products move seamlessly through the supply chain, from vendor receiving to order fulfillment, keeping operations on track. This role offers a chance to develop expertise in inventory systems, teamwork, and logistics—essential skills that will set you up for a rewarding career in the manufacturing and logistics field.
Main Responsibilities:
- Order fulfillment processing
- Vendor receiving processing
- Maintaining records
Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
Coordinator – Repair & Service Department
If you enjoy keeping everything on track and being the backbone of a team, the Coordinator role might be the perfect fit for you. In this position, you’ll be the one ensuring that operations run smoothly, and that all the moving parts work in harmony.
It's a role that requires attention to detail, making sure every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly, while also supporting other team members in achieving their goals. You’ll be coordinating multiple aspects of projects, managing documentation, and acting as a crucial link between different departments, making you an indispensable part of the team’s success.
Main Responsibilities:
- Performing clerical tasks such as data entry, filing, maintaining, and storing records
- Purchase machine parts and equipment, review, and expedite purchase orders
- Input and update work orders
- Update and maintain various production reports and schedules
Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED
- Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook
- Strong communication, organizational, and time management skills
Careers Requiring a College Degree: Reaching New Heights
If you're looking to take the next step, there are advanced roles in manufacturing that require specialized education, offering an exciting leap into a world of creativity and technical expertise. These positions allow you to craft and innovate at a more complex level, giving you the chance to design systems, manage projects, and bring advanced manufacturing concepts to life. Whether you’re developing automation solutions or engineering cutting-edge hydraulic systems, these roles are all about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Mechanical Designer
Mechanical Designers are the architects of automation. You’re sketching the future, supporting projects that help move everything from products on a line to the industry forward. In this role, you bring innovative ideas to life, creating the designs that form the backbone of efficient, automated systems. Your work goes beyond just drafting; it involves problem-solving, collaboration, and a deep understanding of mechanical processes.
By creating precise and functional designs, you directly contribute to the smooth functioning of production lines and help industries operate at their best. You’re building the systems that keep production moving, making a tangible impact on the future of manufacturing.
Main Responsibilities:
- Provide framing design packages to production personnel
- Provide estimating and design support for conveyor and other automation production projects
- Complete design projects utilizing AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor 3D, and other design software
- Support our sales team in the field
Requirements:
- Degree or certification in Mechanical Technology or related experience as a Mechanical Designer/Drafter
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Inventor
- Detail-oriented and precise
Controls Engineer – Automation
As a Controls Engineer, you're not just managing projects; you're mapping out the journey from concept to reality. This role is about creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration across multiple departments. You'll be working to design intricate control systems that bring automation to life, transforming ideas into functioning machinery that enhances production efficiency.
It's a role that requires both technical skills and the ability to think outside the box, solving complex challenges while working closely with different teams to ensure each project is a success. From drafting detailed wiring diagrams to overseeing installations, you'll be at the forefront of innovation, making sure every piece of the puzzle fits seamlessly together.
Main Responsibilities:
- Design and develop new control systems or modify existing systems
- Work collaboratively with sales, operations, purchasing, engineering, and production
- Project manage small to midsize automation projects from conception to start-up
- Generate wiring diagrams and panel layouts
- Assist with installations, start-ups, troubleshooting, and problem-solving
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent related field experience
- 5+ years AutoCAD experience
- PLC programming experience
Hydraulic Engineer
As a Hydraulic Engineer, you're designing the systems that power the manufacturing world. Every design you create is a new piece of machinery brought to life—an essential step in the journey of innovation. This role is about transforming concepts into tangible systems that drive productivity, efficiency, and advancement. You'll be working on cutting-edge projects, analyzing technical documents, and applying engineering principles to solve complex challenges.
Each system you design contributes to the overall success of manufacturing processes, making your work pivotal to the industry. Your expertise in hydraulics helps breathe life into machinery, pushing the boundaries of what modern manufacturing can achieve.
Main Responsibilities:
- Design and/or assist in the design of hydraulic power units and systems
- Analyze requests, proposals, schematics, drawings, and other engineering documents
- Produce drawing documentation—schematics, general arrangement drawings, and test reports utilizing AutoCAD 2D, Inventor 3D, and Excel
Requirements:
- Degree in Engineering Science or a related field
- Proficient 3D software skills
- Ability to read hydraulic and/or pneumatic schematics
- Strong fabrication experience, preferably related to fluid systems and basic weldments
Your Career, Your Journey
No matter where you start, the manufacturing industry is full of opportunities to grow, learn, and explore different paths. Whether you're putting together hydraulic components, keeping the warehouse running, or designing complex automation systems, every role contributes to the larger journey of innovation and progress. At Airline, we give you the tools to carve out a career that's uniquely yours. So, where will your path take you?
Airline Hydraulics, a growing, 100% employee-owned company in the manufacturing sector, is always looking for talented individuals to strengthen its team. Explore our career opportunities today to get started.
Additional Resources
- Explore our career opportunities today
- Airline Website
- Perks & Benefits of Being a CHAMPION
- What We Do - YouTube Video
- We're 100% Employee Owned... But What Does That Mean?
- ESOP Benefits for Employee-Owners | Airline Celebrates ESOP Month!
- Airline's Wall of Champions – Celebrating the Legacy of Our Employee Owners
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