Refractory Support Specialist I

About the Role

The Refractory Support Specialist I serves as an on-site and first-call technical liaison for HarbisonWalker International, supporting one or two accounts. This role works directly with internal Customer Service and Sales Representatives to provide cost-effective refractory solutions and establish HarbisonWalker International as the product of choice. The position is labor-intensive, assisting customers with lining, relining, and repairing furnaces, ladles, and tundishes.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret refractory lining drawings.
• Use brick saws and bricklaying equipment to lay brick in ladles, furnaces, tundishes, etc., including handling bricks manually for extended periods.
• Perform plug changes, repair slide gates, and similar tasks.
• Teach and guide customer staff on correct installation procedures.
• Assist customer staff with various refractory installation methods, including gunite, pouring, ramming, pumping, ceramic fiber, and firebrick installation.
• Help clean and prepare ladles, furnaces, tundishes, etc., for repair, relining, and fabrication.
• Observe product performance at customer sites, perform in-service inspections, post-mortem tear-outs, document findings, and review with HarbisonWalker International team members.
• Work closely with customers to understand their requirements and optimize product performance.
• Monitor stock levels and place replacement orders with HarbisonWalker International’s Customer Service department.
• Perform preventive and general maintenance on refractory equipment and document the maintenance.
• Conduct spare parts and equipment inventory counts to maintain site-specific standards.
• Complete accurate and detailed refractory reports.
• Observe and promote safety and 5S standards, comply with facility safety policies, and participate in daily safety toolbox talks and monthly trainings.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to safely use brick saws and bricklaying equipment.
• Working knowledge of refractory-lined units.
• Ability to operate a jib crane and ensure proper rigging of loads.
• Ability to safely operate a forklift.
• Ability to safely operate various hand and electrical tools.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow work orders as directed.
• Ability to detect and correct unsafe or hazardous conditions in equipment and the work environment.
• Organized individual with an emphasis on quality and meeting deadlines.
• Fundamental computer skills; experience with Excel is a plus.
• Previous construction or manufacturing experience will be considered.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Physical Activity: Requires standing, walking, using hands and fingers, reaching, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, speaking, hearing, and tasting/smelling more than two-thirds of the time; sitting less than one-third of the time.
• Lifting: Requires lifting up to 10 pounds more than two-thirds of the time and lifting over 100 pounds less than one-third of the time.
• Vision: Requires accurate close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, including the ability to adjust focus.
• Environment: Requires working near moving mechanical parts and exposure to fumes, airborne particles, and outdoor weather conditions more than two-thirds of the time. Requires working in wet or humid conditions, extreme heat or cold, and exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals one-third to two-thirds of the time. Office setting, high places, risk of electrical shock, and vibration exposure occur less than one-third of the time.
• Noise: Requires working in very loud conditions (over 85 decibels).