Operations Technician

Shape Your World

At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper & world-shaper.

Operations Technician $1,000 Sign-On Bonus Available*

Shape Your World

This role is designed as a true entry point into a long-term career. The Operations Technician position offers hands-on experience, structured skill development, and clear pathways for advancement within Operations and beyond. Many employees who start in this role progress into higher-level technical, technologist, supervisory, or cross-functional roles across the company as they build expertise and demonstrate strong performance.

- Applicant must start on or before Monday, June 29, 2026, to be eligible for this bonus. The employer has the right to change or modify these terms at their discretion.

Come join the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) team and play a key role in shaping the future of the aluminum industry by contributing directly to the ELYSIS project. The ELYSIS process eliminates the use of carbon anodes, replacing them with proprietary materials. It is the first industrial process that emits oxygen as its by-product and has the potential to transform an entire industry.

About The Role

The Operations Technician role at the Alcoa Technical Center is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to build a long-term career in advanced manufacturing and industrial operations. In this hands-on position, you will support the manufacturing of specialized components while maintaining Alcoa’s standards for safety, quality, and productivity.

This role is intentionally structured to provide exposure to a wide range of processes, technologies, and equipment. In a recent year, approximately 30% of Operations team members advanced through promotions or internal role transitions, reflecting a strong commitment to developing talent from within.

In this role, you will:

- Perform operational tasks to meet project requirements, including forming operations, furnace and kiln loading/unloading, and maintaining process equipment.

- Inspect production parts for quality, including density, dimensional measurements, and other required checks.

- Operate overhead cranes, forklifts, and other mobile equipment as needed.

- Disassemble, repair, and troubleshoot equipment.

- Follow established safety protocols while actively supporting Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) standards, tools, and procedures.

What You Can Bring To The Role

- High school diploma, GED, or trade school education — preferably in mechanical or electrical trades, though candidates from other hands-on fields are encouraged to apply.

- Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment is preferred but not required.

- Ability to handle materials, follow defined process steps, and accurately record process data.

- Willingness to work 12-hour rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.

- Ability to lift up to 65 lbs. from waist level when required.

- Valid driver’s license required.

Work Environment & Additional Requirements

- Use of task-specific personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

- Comfortable working in a relatively noisy industrial environment.

- Flexibility and adaptability to schedule changes, including shift adjustments.

What We Offer

Competitive hourly pay with shift differentials, overtime, and holiday pay.

Demonstrated career growth opportunities, including a strong history of internal promotions and movement into advanced technical, supervisory, and cross-functional roles.

- 120 hours of paid vacation annually (pro-rated based on hire date during the first year).

- Flexible Spending Accounts and a Health Savings Account with generous employer contributions.

- 401(k) with employer match up to 6%, plus additional employer retirement income contributions with no vesting period.

- 10 paid holidays plus one flexible holiday of your choice.

- 56 hours of sick/safe leave.

- 4 hours of paid annual volunteer time.

Alcoa has been recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces by Newsweek.

About the Location

Every day is a new and exciting challenge at the Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We develop new technologies with our Breakthrough Technologies team that has the potential to impact the life of millions of people and foster the sustainable footprint from Alcoa to the world. It was here where we developed the technology recently announced in partnership with Rio Tinto, called ELYSIS™, where we will produce aluminum with ZERO emission of greenhouse gases. In fact, we will actually be generating oxygen to our atmosphere during the aluminum production process– a revolution to the aluminum industry!

We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress.  Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person’s gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.

If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at gssrecruiting@alcoa.com.

This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!

Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.