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Skilled Machine Operator

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Job ID 316906 Date posted 10/24/2025 Location : West Columbia, South Carolina Category  BUILD OPERATE MAINTAIN (PLANT OPNS) Job Status  Hourly Full Time

New, easy-to-apply options are available for this role: chat with our recruiting assistant Ana at careers.cargill.com or text CargillJobs to 60196.   

Want to build a stronger, more sustainable future and cultivate your career? Join Cargill's global team of 160,000 employees who are committed to safe, responsible and sustainable ways to nourish the world. This position is in Cargill’s protein and salt business, where we provide wholesome, high-quality food products to a wide range of customers, from foodservice operators and grocery stores to manufacturers and exporters.

A Machine Operator has an important role to play in the daily operations of our facility. In this role you will be responsible for operating a machine to help ensure that product is produced to customer specifications. This position requires working in a cold environment (32-40 degrees) and standing for up to 10 hours each day.

Job Location: West Columbia, SC
Job Type: Full Time
Shift(s) Available: 2nd
Compensation: $23.25/hr

Benefits Information

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug Insurance
  • Health and Wellness Incentives
  • Paid Vacation and Holidays
  • 401(k) with Cargill matching contributions
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Short-Term Disability and Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Discounts

Principal Accountabilities 

Duties may include but are not limited to:

  • Setup, change over, and teardown of machines

  • Read run sheets and utilize machines to produce product to customer specifications

  • Ability to lift up to 60lb
  • Communicate with production employees, leads, and supervisors
  • Maintaining a safe working environment
  • Accurately complete related paperwork
  • Ensuring food safety and quality
  • Cleanliness and housekeeping
  • Set-up of equipment/workstation
  • Be able to operate a pallet-jack
  • Be able to learn and perform lock out tag out (LOTO)

Required Qualifications

  • Must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Be able to speak/read/write English
  • Ability to fill out process paperwork
  • Must be able to lift 60lbs or more
  • Basic math skills with calculator
  • Ability to work in a cold environment, and the ability to work in a potentially physically strenuous environment


Preferred Qualifications

  • Previous food manufacturing experience
  • Previous leadership experience
  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent
  • Production experience
  • Work history in the last 12 months

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet



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At Cargill, everyone matters and everyone counts. Cargill is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. As such and in alignment with our Guiding Principles, Cargill’s long-standing equal employment opportunity policy prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, family status, citizenship status, veteran status, military status, union affiliation, or any other status protected by law.

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How to request a reasonable accommodation | Read about Federal equal employment opportunity laws (PDF) and the supplement (PDF) | Pay Transparency (PDF).

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