How to hire a winder operator

How to hire a winder operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step winder operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a winder operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new winder operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your winder operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a winder operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect winder operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents winder operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Winder Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Winder Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$12-19
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show more	$12-18
   Material Handler/Forklift Operator	A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quality Checks
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Rules
   • Extrusion
   • Production Schedules
   • Production Data
   • Doff
   • Safety Policies
   • Quality Products
   • Machine Operators
   • Customer Specifications
   • Production Reports
   • Product Specifications
   • Paper Machine

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
   • Pack finished product so they can be put on pallets to ship out.
   • Change male and female slitters when needed.Splice mill rolls when need and get to start number.
   • Maintain production machines and other various equipment (including winders, hoists, trim puller, mixers).
   • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
   • Install protective bracing, padding and strapping to pallet to prevent shifting and damage to items during transport.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your winder operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A winder operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, winder operators' average salary in tennessee is 42% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level winder operators 34% less than senior-level winder operators.
   • Certifications. A winder operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a winder operator's salary.

   Average winder operator salary

   $16.10hourly

   $33,495 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level winder operator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a winder operator job description

   A winder operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a winder operator job description:

   Winder operator job description example

   Apply now »
   
   Date:Sep 28, 2022
   
   Location: Tallassee, AL, US
   
   Company: GKN Aerospace Careers
   
   Job Summary
   
   Preparation, producing and verification of products created by means of layup, winding, and curing.
   
   Job Responsibilities
   
   - The timely preparation of the production process to ensure that the required scheduling can be realized, i.e. by timely removing the needed materials from the freezer.
   
   - producing the tubes that meet the specifications;
   
   - deliverance of tubes according to scheduling
   
   - Carrying out the work according to safety and environmental demands.
   
   - Compliancy with procedures, business rules and safety, quality, environmental, security and export compliance regulations as it applies to the function.
   
   Preparations
   
   - Receives assignment from Team Lead, together with necessary documentation, or works from scheduling plan.
   
   - Timely orders necessary materials from warehouse, checks and calculates expiration and curing dates. Plans use of materials based on this information.
   
   - Notes all necessary information in work instruction according to specifications.
   
   - Checks and orders all other auxiliary materials required for the production and curing of the products.
   
   - Places the required winding mandrel in the machine and ensures that the materials are in the right place and ready for winding.
   
   - Verifies if parts of the filament winders needs overhauling and does so if necessary.
   
   - Discusses the proceedings with colleagues.
   
   The winding process
   
   - Starts up the required winding program, monitors and ensures the proper winding tension.
   
   - Verifies and constantly monitors the winding process and intervenes when the process is likely to deviate or deviates from prescribed internal and external requirements (TH, work instructions, customers, material specifications, etc.).
   
   - Wraps the product airtight after winding, in accordance with internal and external requirements, then checks for leaks and sets it up for the oven.
   
   - Releases products for the next operation (oven)
   
   -
   
   The finishing process
   
   - After receipt from the cured products from the oven, makes thermocouples, orders, checks and maintains the necessary tools and materials for cutting, measuring and bonding of the various types of products, in accordance with internal and external requirements.
   
   - Removes the entire vacuum package and extracts the product from the mold.
   
   - Performs quality control in accordance with procedure and releases product for further processing.
   
   Completes various testing orders, prepares and submits these docs for the Lab.
   
   - Measures various dimensions of the product on the flat surface..table (inner contour, length, squareness, flatness, electrical resistance, roughness).
   
   - Inserts the measured values in the computer
   
   - Executes the numbering of the product, the touch-up and preparation for NDT by treatment with EPICOTE.
   
   The verification process
   
   - Checks and executes the buy-off process for the products
   
   - Adds and verifies all checked dimensions and test results.
   
   - Screens and checks the entire work order from start to end, and then notifies completion in the system.
   
   The laminating process
   
   - Prepares laminating of doublers by timely ordering of materials and auxiliary materials.
   
   - Laminates doublers in the cleanroom and, finishes these after the autoclave process, checks and releases for next operation
   
   Other activities
   
   - Maintains and replaces machine parts and tools associated with the winding process
   
   Job Qualifications
   
   Knowledge of:
   
   - the functioning and operating of a winding machine and several winding processes
   
   - laminating of carbon fiber and glass fiber materials
   
   - the requirements that products must comply to
   
   - Drawing interpretation
   
   - reading and understanding of various internal and external requirements and specifications (TH, customer specifications, manufacturing processes including the bonding process)
   
   - Maintenance and parts replacement of winding machine.
   
   - manually applying several different layers and supports
   
   - operating an overhead crane
   
   - Measuring with different measuring devices
   
   - Working with a PC and computer programs, including the ERP system, word processing software, spreadsheet software, the Quality Management System (QMS).
   
   - Carrying out different tasks at the right moment (direct workshop planning)
   
   - Procedures, company rules and safety, quality, environmental, security and export compliance regulations insofar as it applies to the function.
   
   Manual skills
   
   - Operating a key board of a winding machine, a computer, etc.
   
   - applying different layers in a mold
   
   - operating the sawing machine
   
   - using different measuring tools and instruments
   
   - applying supports by means of bonding
   
   - laminating
   
   Complexity/Authorization
   
   Performs the work independently, while taking into account the given planning, guidance and regulations. Two people carry out the process at the winding machine.
   
   Ensures proper scheduling, coordinates and synchronizes the various (parts of) activities, to ensure that the progress of the entire process is guaranteed and that there is no loss of material due to expirations date.
   
   Furthermore, it is essential that the required materials and (aid) resources are timely available (for example from freezer) to avoid stoppage of the process. Discusses any ambiguities with the Team Leader and seeks to offer a solution with common problems.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find winder operators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your winder operator job on Zippia to find and recruit winder operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit winder operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new winder operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the winder operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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