Location: Brookfield, Connecticut, United States
Base Pay: $27.00 per hour
Overtime: Time-and-a-half after 40 hours per week
Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Relocation Assistance: $7,500
Eligibility Requirement: U.S. persons only due to ITAR requirements
Job Description
A precision CNC machining and electroforming manufacturer serving aerospace and defense customers is seeking an experienced CNC Machinist for its facility in Brookfield, Connecticut.
This is a true machinist position, not an entry-level machine operator role. The selected candidate will be responsible for setting up, programming, and operating CNC mills, lathes, and mill-turn centers while producing low-volume, high-mix precision components to demanding customer specifications.
The ideal candidate must be capable of working with minimal supervision, holding tight tolerances consistently, reading technical drawings and GD&T, selecting tooling and workholding, making program adjustments, and performing in-process inspection.
Because the company operates under ITAR requirements, all candidates must qualify as U.S. persons. This requirement is mandatory and cannot be waived.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up and operate CNC mills, lathes, and mill-turn centers.
- Program CNC equipment using software such as:
- Mastercam.
- EZCAM.
- Inventor HSM / InventorCAM.
- Manufacture parts according to:
- Customer drawings.
- Purchase orders.
- Production schedules.
- Hold tight tolerances consistently on precision aerospace and defense components.
- Read and interpret:
- Blueprints.
- Engineering drawings.
- GD&T.
- Travelers.
- Setup sheets.
- Select and install appropriate cutting tools.
- Establish workholding and fixturing.
- Set tool and work offsets.
- Make CNC program edits at the machine when necessary.
- Identify programming or design issues and communicate them to Engineering rather than working around them.
- Perform in-process inspections.
- Verify completed parts before releasing them to the next operation.
- Run multiple CNC machines simultaneously when appropriate to maximize spindle utilization.
- Record production data accurately, including:
- Time.
- Quantities.
- Job status.
- Train and support machine operators.
- Help develop setup documentation so future operators and machinists can repeat jobs accurately.
Required Qualifications
- U.S. person status for ITAR compliance.
- Verifiable hands-on CNC machining experience.
- Proven ability to perform CNC setups independently.
- Experience beyond basic machine operation.
- Strong blueprint-reading skills.
- Working knowledge of GD&T.
- Experience using precision measuring instruments, including:
- Micrometers.
- Calipers.
- Indicators.
- Gauges.
- Demonstrated ability to consistently hold tight tolerances.
- Ability to troubleshoot machining and setup issues.
- Ability to work with limited supervision.
- Willingness to work overtime when production schedules require it.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to follow established manufacturing processes and documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in any of the following areas is highly desirable:
- Aerospace manufacturing.
- Defense manufacturing.
- 5-axis machining.
- Mill-turn machining.
- Swiss machining.
- Mastercam.
- EZCAM.
- InventorCAM or Inventor HSM.
- Electroforming.
- Plating environments.
- Military machining or maintenance.
- Precision low-volume, high-mix manufacturing.
CNC Programming and Setup Skills
The ideal candidate should be comfortable with:
- CNC machine setup.
- Tool selection.
- Fixture setup.
- Workholding.
- Offset setting.
- Program verification.
- Machine-side program editing.
- Setup documentation.
- Process troubleshooting.
- Precision inspection.
This position requires someone who understands the entire machining process rather than simply loading parts and pressing cycle start.
Quality and Precision Requirements
The machinist will work on high-precision parts used in aerospace and defense applications.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining dimensional accuracy.
- Following customer specifications.
- Performing inspection throughout the machining process.
- Identifying potential quality issues before parts move to the next operation.
- Following GD&T requirements.
- Maintaining accurate job and production records.
- Escalating drawing, programming, or design discrepancies when necessary.
Shop Expectations
All employees working on the manufacturing floor are expected to:
- Maintain constant awareness of safety.
- Follow safety procedures around machinery and chemicals.
- Avoid loose clothing, hanging jewelry, and other hazards around equipment.
- Complete scheduled jobs within required production timelines.
- Remain focused on assigned production responsibilities.
- Follow standardized processes.
- Identify potential process improvements and communicate them to the team.
- Maintain a clean and organized work area.
- Clean work areas during or after machining operations.
- Support continuous improvement.
- Develop new skills as automation and collaborative robotics are introduced into the facility.
Work Environment
This is an on-site manufacturing position in a precision machine shop.
The machinist will work directly with:
- CNC mills.
- CNC lathes.
- Mill-turn equipment.
- Precision inspection tools.
- Cutting tools and fixtures.
- Manufacturing documentation.
- Aerospace and defense components.
The shop is evolving toward increased automation and collaborative robotics, creating opportunities for employees to expand their technical skills.
Compensation
- Base pay of $27.00 per hour.
- Overtime paid at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate for hours worked over 40 per week.
- Overtime is regularly available.
- Full-time employment.
Relocation Assistance
The company provides $7,500 in relocation assistance.
Payment structure:
- 50% paid on the employee's start date.
- Remaining 50% paid after 90 days of employment.
The entire relocation amount must be repaid if the employee voluntarily leaves the company within the first 12 months.
The relocation package does not include:
- Housing allowance.
- Ongoing housing stipend.
- Separate relocation expense reimbursement.
Candidates may relocate from anywhere within the United States or U.S. territories.
Benefits
Benefits are provided according to the company's benefits plan.
Specific benefit details will be reviewed during the hiring process.
ITAR Eligibility Requirement
This position supports manufacturing for aerospace and defense customers and operates under ITAR requirements.
Therefore:
- Candidates must qualify as a U.S. person.
- This is a mandatory hiring requirement.
- There are no exceptions to this requirement.
- Candidates who do not meet ITAR U.S. person requirements cannot be considered for the position.
Hiring Process
The company uses a three-step hiring process:
1. Video Interview
The first interview is conducted by web conference.
Topics typically include:
- CNC machines previously operated.
- Types of setups performed.
- Tolerances maintained.
- Programming experience.
- How the candidate approaches a machining setup.
- Troubleshooting experience.
The company will also explain the work environment and expectations.
2. On-Site Interview
Candidates who successfully complete the video interview may be invited to Connecticut for an in-person interview at the company's expense.
During the visit, the candidate will:
- Tour the manufacturing floor.
- See the equipment they may operate.
- Meet potential coworkers.
- Discuss actual machining work.
- Review the work environment before making a relocation decision.
The on-site interview is intended to be a two-way evaluation.
3. Job Offer
Candidates who successfully complete the on-site interview may receive a formal employment offer.
Ideal Candidate
This opportunity is ideal for an experienced CNC Machinist who can independently set up and run precision CNC equipment, rather than someone whose experience is limited to machine operation.
The ideal candidate understands the full machining process, from reading the drawing and planning the setup through tooling, fixturing, offsets, programming, inspection, and final part verification.
Experience producing tight-tolerance aerospace or defense components is especially valuable, along with exposure to Mastercam, 5-axis machining, mill-turn equipment, Swiss machining, GD&T, and precision inspection.
Apply with an updated resume that clearly describes the CNC machines you have operated, the setups you have performed, the tolerances you have held, your programming experience, and the precision measuring equipment you regularly use.
Pay: From $27.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
Experience:
- CNC mills, lathes, and mill-turn centers: 3 years (Required)
- Mastercam, EZCAM, Inventor HSM / InventorCAM.: 3 years (Required)
- Strong blueprint-reading skills.: 3 years (Required)
- Micrometers, Calipers, Indicators, Gauges.: 3 years (Required)
- Aerospace manufacturing, Defense manufacturing.: 3 years (Preferred)
- Swiss machining, GD&T, precision inspection: 3 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- U.S. person status for ITAR compliance (Required)
Work Location: In person
