Your Job
The Journey-Level Machinist will machine custom fiber optic components, precision parts, production tooling, and fixtures in a high-mix manufacturing environment. This role requires strong CNC setup, operation, troubleshooting, inspection, and program-editing skills. Preferred experience includes 5-axis Swiss machining, vertical and horizontal milling, 3-axis lathe work, and Mastercam programming. The ideal candidate can read complex drawings, hold tight tolerances, solve setup challenges, and support safety, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement goals.
Our Team
Our Caldwell team specializes in the design and manufacture of specialty optical fiber products, precision components, and custom assemblies used in advanced industrial and medical technologies. Working alongside skilled machinists, engineers, technicians, and operators, you'll contribute to a highly collaborative environment focused on precision, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. We leverage advanced manufacturing capabilities, including CNC machining and rapid prototyping, to solve complex challenges and deliver high-quality products for customers worldwide.
What You Will Do
Machining Operations and Setup
- Set up, operate, and troubleshoot CNC equipment with limited oversight.
- Validate setups, adjust offsets, confirm tooling, verify first-piece quality, and support production priorities safely.
- Maintain part quality and dimensional accuracy throughout production.
- Support close-tolerance work, difficult features, recurring in-process checks, and controlled corrections to reduce scrap or rework.
- Perform complex or non-routine machining work.
- Develop or modify tooling, fixtures, workholding, feeds, speeds, offsets, coolants, and process methods for new parts, difficult materials, and tight-tolerance requirements.
Print Reading, Tooling, and Inspection
- Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
- Confirm critical features, tolerances, finishes, datums, threads, and inspection needs before and during production.
- Select tooling, fixtures, accessories, and machining parameters based on material, geometry, tolerance, finish, and machine capability.
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Inspect parts using precision tools such as micrometers, calipers, gauges, comparators, stereoscopes, and other required inspection equipment.
Documentation and Work Instructions
- Complete production records, job tracking, and required scans accurately to support traceability and job status.
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Follow work instructions, assembly/test requirements, and documented processes; communicate gaps or improvement opportunities.
Programming and Process Improvement
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Use Mastercam to create, modify, verify, and improve CNC toolpaths across milling, turning, and Swiss machining applications.
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Make program edits at the machine or in Mastercam to improve part quality, reduce cycle time, correct toolpath issues, and maintain safe machine movement.
- Support continuous improvement in setup efficiency, machine utilization, tooling performance, quality, yield, and workflow.
Safety, Quality, and Team Performance
- Follow company safety, ISO, and Quality Management System requirements during setup, operation, inspection, material handling, and troubleshooting.
- Collaborate with teammates, leads, engineering, quality, and planning to support on-time delivery, product yield, completed hours, and shop flow.
- Occasionally perform secondary operations such as heat-treating, welding, soldering, or related support tasks as needed.
Documentation and Work Instructions
- Complete production records, job tracking, and required scans accurately to support traceability and job status.
- Follow work instructions, assembly/test requirements, and documented processes; communicate gaps or improvement opportunities.
Programming and Process Improvement
- Use Mastercam to create, modify, verify, and improve CNC toolpaths across milling, turning, and Swiss machining applications.
- Make program edits at the machine or in Mastercam to improve part quality, reduce cycle time, correct toolpath issues, and maintain safe machine movement.
- Support continuous improvement in setup efficiency, machine utilization, tooling performance, quality, yield, and workflow.
Safety, Quality, and Team Performance
- Follow company safety, ISO, and Quality Management System requirements during setup, operation, inspection, material handling, and troubleshooting.
- Collaborate with teammates, leads, engineering, quality, and planning to support on-time delivery, product yield, completed hours, and shop flow.
- Occasionally perform secondary operations such as heat-treating, welding, soldering, or related support tasks as needed.
Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
- One (1) year or more CNC machining experience or completion of a two-year technical machinist program.
- Experience setting up, operating, and troubleshooting vertical mills, horizontal mills, and 3-axis lathes in production, prototype, tooling, fixture, or high-mix environments.
- Working knowledge of Mastercam for programming, toolpath modification, setup support, and CNC process improvement
- Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, work instructions, inspection requirements, tolerances, and GD&T callouts
What Will Put You Ahead
- 5-axis Swiss machining experience, including setup, tooling selection, guide bushing considerations, offsets, program edits, part handling, and troubleshooting
- Associate degree, machinist certification, apprenticeship completion, or equivalent documented technical training.
- Demonstrated success setting up, programming, proving out, and troubleshooting complex CNC jobs across Swiss, milling, and lathe platforms.
- Experience with process planning, difficult materials, non-standard threads, small or delicate components, tight-tolerance parts, and strong inspection discipline.
In order to comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, this position requires applicants to either provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status or be eligible to receive an export authorization (a license) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
Phillips Medisize, a Molex company, collaborates with industry leaders to design and manufacture drug delivery systems, medical devices and diagnostic tools that save and improve the quality of life for millions of patients annually. With our dedicated team of 6,000+ employees in 29 locations around the world, we share our customers' mindset that every product is critical to a healthcare provider and their patients somewhere in the world. Molex is a multi-sector global electronics brand owned by Koch, Inc., one of the world's largest privately held companies. Discover your potential to make a difference.
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).
