Job Description

At Utah Steel , we're not just fabricating steel—we're redefining the industry. Our mission is to disrupt the steel fabrication sector through advanced facilities, cutting-edge equipment, intelligent automation, and empowered teams that celebrate achievement and operational excellence.

We’re entering a significant growth phase and seeking a seasoned Chief Operating Officer to bring structure, efficiency, and scale to our shop operations. This is a hands-on leadership role , focused exclusively on the shop floor and essential to delivering results without sacrificing quality or morale.

You’ll take full ownership of production— leading crews, driving output, implementing systems, and setting the pace for daily execution . We’re looking for a floor-first operator who has spent 10+ years running high-output steel shops and knows how to bring order to complexity, hit deadlines, and build disciplined, high-performing teams.

Preferred candidates will have prior experience serving as COO for a $300M–$500M+ steel manufacturing business , and bring a strong command of performance improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma or similar).

Success in this role requires more than just operational expertise. We’re looking for someone selfless and ego-free , who is brilliant but approachable, driven but highly collaborative —someone who others trust, want to follow, and who gets things done.

If you’ve dedicated your career to leading steel fabrication shops and are ready to help build something exceptional, this is your moment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all shop operations:
• Scheduling, PowerFab, Bending, QC, Beam Line, Welding, Punching, Plasma (Plaz), and Laser
• Lead day-to-day production planning and drive accountability across crews and shifts.
• Align labor, materials, and equipment to meet delivery dates without compromising quality.
• Standardize workflows and ensure production data is clean, current, and actionable.
• Collaborate with project management, estimating, and engineering for seamless execution.
• Champion a culture of safety, ownership, and continuous improvement across the floor.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of proven leadership in structural and precision steel manufacturing .
• Deep expertise in shop-floor processes and production—from detailing to delivery.
• Experience using Tekla or similar fabrication/manufacturing software solutions —you’ve used it to drive and optimize fabrication.
• Proficient in ERP systems— Acumatica or similar .
• Strong track record of leading teams through growth, change, and modernization.
• Excellent communicator with a leadership style rooted in accountability and trust.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as COO or similar role in a $300M–$500M+ steel or manufacturing organization .
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, and/or EOS operational frameworks .
• A leadership style that is selfless, ego-free, collaborative, and execution-focused .

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary and Benefits Package – Total annual cash compensation opportunity of $230,000 - $280,000 , plus health, vision, dental, and PTO benefits
• Executive-Level Influence – Be a core member of our leadership team with direct impact on strategy and operations.
• High-Impact Role – You’ll be trusted with real authority to fix what’s broken, streamline production, and scale the shop for the future.
• Autonomy & Ownership – Build your department and drive operational innovation.
• A Growth-Stage Environment – Join a fast-moving company with entrepreneurial energy and real backing.
• Strong Culture & Values – Work with a team that puts faith, integrity, respect, and excellence at the center of everything we do.
• Cutting-Edge Tools – Automated fab systems, iPads on the floor, real-time analytics, and a strong ERP backbone—built to empower your success and set us apart from the rest.
• A Clear Path Forward – Help shape the strategy, team, and systems that define the next decade at Utah Steel.

Why Join Utah Steel?

At Utah Steel, we’re not just fabricating steel—we’re building a smarter, faster, more innovative future for American manufacturing. As a company in rapid growth mode, we’re investing heavily in advanced automation, real-time data systems, and scalable infrastructure to support best-in-class production.

Now, we’re assembling the leadership team that will take us to the next level. If you're ready to make an outsized impact at a company that values operational excellence, invests in its people, and is redefining what a steel manufacturer can be— Utah Steel is where you belong.

To Apply

Apply via LinkedIn or send your resume and a short note about why you’re excited to build Utah Steel to: jacob@utahsteel.com

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