Architectural Metal Polisher
About The Position
The Architectural Metal Polisher prepares and finishes fabricated metal components for architectural projects. The role removes surface defects, blends welds, and produces finishes that match approved samples, drawings, and work order requirements. The Polisher protects part geometry and visible surfaces, inspects work before release, records labor accurately, and coordinates finish questions with the Polishing and Finishing Lead. The position involves reviewing work orders, drawings, finish specifications, samples, and priorities; identifying material and acceptance criteria; inspecting incoming parts; and selecting appropriate finishing methods. The Polisher uses abrasives, hand tools, and polishing equipment to prepare surfaces and create specified finishes while avoiding damage, contamination, and inconsistent appearance. Finished parts are inspected, cleaned, labeled, and protected, while nonconforming work is identified and reported. The Polisher coordinates with fabrication, finishing, quality, and shipping personnel, records labor and production status, and maintains workstations, tools, abrasives, and equipment. Work takes place in a metal shop with noise, dust, vibration, sharp edges, and moving equipment. Required PPE and applicable ventilation, housekeeping, and material-handling procedures must be followed.
Requirements
- Ability to follow work orders, basic shop drawings, finish specifications, and approved samples.
- Ability to safely use common grinding, sanding, and polishing tools and produce repeatable visual results.
- Attention to detail, good hand control, and ability to inspect surfaces and communicate defects clearly.
- Ability to record labor time and follow instructions in a production environment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience polishing stainless steel, brass, aluminum, or other architectural metal components.
- Experience blending welds and matching directional, satin, brushed, or mirror finishes on visible architectural surfaces.
- Training in metal fabrication, blueprint reading, or finishing methods.
Responsibilities
- Follow company safety procedures and use task-appropriate protective equipment, machine guards, dust collection or ventilation, and safe handling methods.
- Report unsafe conditions, near misses, and exposures; stop work and seek direction when a task cannot be performed safely.
- Review work orders, current drawings, finish specifications, approved samples, and priorities; request clarification when requirements are missing or inconsistent.
- Identify material type, visible faces, grain direction, adjoining parts, protected areas, and acceptance criteria before selecting a finishing method.
- Inspect incoming parts for surface or dimensional defects and report concerns before polishing.
- Remove weld discoloration, scratches, tool marks, and other surface defects using appropriate abrasives, hand tools, and polishing equipment.
- Blend welds and prepare corners, edges, joints, and transitions without damaging specified profiles or dimensions.
- Produce specified directional, satin, brushed, or mirror finishes and match approved samples and adjacent components.
- Control abrasive sequence, pressure, and grain direction to avoid cross-grain marks, waviness, heat damage, contamination, and uneven appearance.
- Use dedicated or properly cleaned tools and consumables when needed to prevent cross contamination between metals.
- Inspect finished parts under suitable lighting and compare them with approved samples and acceptance criteria.
- Request review when a finish cannot be matched or a defect cannot be removed safely.
- Clean, handle, label, and protect completed components during storage and transfer.
- Identify or segregate nonconforming work, notify the Lead, and perform and verify rework only under approved direction.
- Coordinate with fabrication, finishing, quality, and shipping personnel on part sequence, finish expectations, rework, and delivery priorities.
- Accurately record labor hours, completed quantities, and work order status; communicate material or schedule constraints promptly.
- Maintain workstations, tools, abrasives, and equipment, and report maintenance needs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
