North Shore Steel is an industry-leading metals service center in the Houston area with a 65-year history of serving customers at the highest level. Our mission is to create significant value for our customers, provide a prosperous workplace for our employees, and positively impact society. North Shore Steel is seeking an experienced professionals to join our team.
Job Summary
Our organization sells steel products and services to steel fabricators, steel service centers, and original equipment manufacturers nationwide. We have very sophisticated steel processing capabilities, including plate cutting and beveling, plate roll, plate forming, and welding.
We are seeking a detail-oriented and technically capable individual to join our Plate Processing team in a Technical Sales Support capacity. This entry-level role plays a critical part in supporting the Inside Sales and Estimating team by interpreting steel part drawings, assisting with plate nesting, and generating accurate material takeoffs for quoting.
The ideal candidate will have a foundational understanding of CAD drawings, nesting software, and steel fabrication principles. This is a hands-on, fast-paced role that requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn.
Our organization lives our Core Values – Be Safe Always, Provide Great Service, Do the Right Thing, Take the Initiative, and Maximize Your Potential. If you believe in and aspire to live these Core Values and meet the position requirements, we welcome your application.
Key Responsibilities
1. Technical Drawing Interpretation
- Review and interpret customer-provided steel part drawings and CAD files.
- Often utilizing CAD software & knowledge to assist.
- Identify material types, thicknesses, tolerances, and critical dimensions.
- Communicate with sales, order processing, and quality teams to clarify ambiguous specifications.
2. Plate Nesting & Material Utilization
- Use nesting software (e.g., SigmaNEST, ProNest, or equivalent) to optimize plate layouts for cutting.
- Maximize yield and minimize scrap in nesting processes.
- Support estimating team with layout options for quote optimization.
3. Quoting & Inside Sales Support
- Assist with the preparation of material takeoffs and preliminary labor estimates.
- Support pricing requests for cut parts and plate processing services.
- Help manage quote tracking, customer communications, and quote follow-ups.
4. ERP & Data Entry
- Input part specifications, nesting data, and material requirements into the ERP system.
- Maintain accurate records of drawings, quotes, and job details.
- Support job travelers and work order creation for production.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Inside Sales, Order Processing, and Quality teams to ensure smooth handoffs from quote to order fulfillment.
- Work with shop floor leads and programmers to align on capabilities and layout feasibility.
Qualifications
- Required: Working knowledge of CAD drafting (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent).
- Preferred: Certification such as Autodesk Certified User (ACU) or equivalent CAD certification.
- Exposure to nesting software, plate optimization tools, and CNC plate processing equipment (waterjet, laser, plasma, oxy fuel, etc.) also preferred.
- Knowledge of steel grades is a plus but not required.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings & customer/part specifications.
- Strong mathematical and spatial reasoning skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and basic ERP systems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Interest in steel, fabrication, or manufacturing industries.
BENEFITS:North Shore provides rich benefits to its full-time employees and their families, including, but not limited to, multiple Major Medical plans, Dental, Vision, Vol Life, Short Term Disability, and a Flex Spending Account. We also provide a Basic Life policy and Long Term Disability at no cost to you. The benefits don’t stop there, with the added value of a generous holiday schedule, PTO policy, and a 401k plan.