A punch press operator works to set up and operate a punch press, which is a machine that manufacturers use to punch holes and creates shapes in metal, plastic, or other materials. This can happen before, during, or after product assembly. Your duties include quality checks of the products or components that the machine produces, and your job responsibilities may involve performing maintenance of the punch press after a production run. You may need to configure the machine before a production run or program shapes using a specialized computer program.