Job Summary
TalentWise is hiring a Senior CNC Machinist to work with a well-funded stealth startup building advanced gas turbine generators for AI data centers and other high-demand facilities.
This is a six-month contract-to-hire opportunity. The position will begin as a contract through TalentWise, with the intention of converting to direct, full-time employment with the client after six months. Upon conversion, the employee will be eligible for the company’s equity compensation program.
As one of the company’s early manufacturing hires, you will help build an advanced machining operation from the ground up. This is a hands-on role for an experienced machinist who can independently program, set up, and run complex parts while helping establish the systems, tooling, and workspace for a new in-house machine shop.
You will work directly with manufacturing and engineering leaders on turbine and rotating hardware, including blade and blisk geometries, prototypes, fixtures, tooling, and low-volume production parts. The right person can start with an open-ended problem, determine what is needed, and carry the work through without waiting for step-by-step direction.
Key Responsibilities
· Program, set up, and operate a DMG Mori CNC machine with a Siemens controller across advanced milling, turning, and 5-axis mill-turn operations.
· Develop and optimize CAM programs using Mastercam to produce complex, tight-tolerance components.
· Machine difficult materials, including Inconel and other nickel superalloys, titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum.
· Produce turbine components, including blade and blisk features, along with prototypes, fixtures, tooling, and low-volume production parts.
· Develop workholding and fixturing strategies for cast, 3D-printed, and other complex near-net-shape parts.
· Read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and 3D CAD models to determine tooling, setups, speeds, feeds, and inspection requirements.
· Perform first-piece and in-process inspections using micrometers, calipers, height gauges, bore gauges, indicators, and thread or pin gauges.
· Troubleshoot surface finish, tolerance, tool-life, and process issues, making adjustments independently as needed.
· Work directly with engineers to provide design-for-manufacturability feedback, identify machining risks, and recommend practical design or process changes.
· Help establish and organize the machining area, including machine layout, tooling, workholding, setup documentation, maintenance practices, and general shop readiness.
· Support equipment installation, acceptance testing, preventive maintenance, and process improvements as the manufacturing operation grows.
· Assist with manual machining, light fabrication, TIG welding, and other shop needs when qualified.
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Minimum Qualifications
· 8+ years of hands-on CNC machining experience, including independent programming, setup, operation, and inspection of complex precision parts.
· Advanced experience with 5-axis mill-turn machining, with strong capabilities across both milling and turning operations.
· Experience operating and programming DMG Mori machines or comparable multitasking CNC equipment.
· Experience working with Siemens CNC controls.
· Advanced CAM programming experience using Mastercam.
· Experience machining difficult materials, including Inconel or similar nickel-based superalloys and titanium.
· Strong blueprint-reading and GD&T interpretation skills, with the ability to plan and complete a job from print or 3D model through final inspection.
· Demonstrated ability to develop effective work holding and fixturing strategies for complex parts.
· Experience working directly with engineers and providing practical design-for-manufacturability feedback.
· Ability to troubleshoot machining, tooling, finish, tolerance, and process issues independently.
· Strong personal standards for safety, organization, documentation, and part quality.
· Ability to identify problems, establish priorities, and complete work with limited direction.
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Preferred Qualifications
· Experience machining turbine, aerospace, hot-section, blade, impeller, or blisk components.
· Experience with DMG Mori 5-axis mill-turn machines using Siemens controls.
· Experience machining cast, 3D-printed, or other near-net-shape parts.
· Experience developing fixtures and workholding for irregular or complex components.
· Wire EDM or CMM programming experience.
· Experience supporting first article inspection and dimensional inspection documentation.
· TIG welding or other hands-on fabrication experience.
· Experience installing new equipment, establishing a machining cell, or helping build a machine shop from an empty space.
Work Environment and Schedule
· Full-time, on-site position in Brisbane, California.
· Standard work schedule is 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
· Overtime may be required based on production schedules and project deadlines, particularly in support of a year-end deliverable.
· This is a six-month contract-to-hire position, with the intention of converting to direct, full-time employment with the client.
· Work is performed in an active manufacturing and machine-shop environment that requires regular interaction with CNC equipment, tooling, materials, and engineering teams.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Prolonged periods standing and working on machinery.
- Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Benefits
- Competitive Hourly Wage ($40 - $60 / HR)
- 100% paid health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plan
- Paid time off and holidays
- Opportunities for professional development and training
Pay: $45.00 - $65.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience machining complex turbine components, blades, blisks, or impellers from Inconel, titanium, or similar difficult-to-machine alloys?
Experience:
- 5 Axis CNC: 8 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Brisbane, CA 94005 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
