Lead Machinist - Swiss and Mill Turn

ARCH•Newtown, CT

About The Position

The Lead Machinist sets up, operates, and troubleshoots conventional, special-purpose, and CNC machines and machining centers to fabricate metallic and nonmetallic parts. The role requires experience setting up and operating Mill Turn B-Axis twin-spindle machines and Citizen/Tsugami multi-axis Swiss lathes. The Lead Machinist works with Engineering to start up new parts, helps maintain equipment, and ensures personnel are trained to produce high-quality parts. The position supports machining operations from setup and tooling through inspection, documentation, scheduling, training, troubleshooting, process development, and repair or rework. It includes operating multiple machines when required, providing technical guidance to Engineering and Quality, and mentoring apprentices. The employee follows quality-system and safety procedures and may be assigned other duties.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Completed a machining-related apprenticeship program or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Three to five years of experience at the Machinist level, demonstrating the ability to start up new parts and troubleshoot difficult machining problems.
Experience setting up and operating Mill Turn B-Axis twin-spindle machines and Citizen/Tsugami multi-axis Swiss lathes.
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, blueprints, specifications, and quality plans.
Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, present numerical data, and write routine correspondence.
Ability to apply arithmetic, decimals, fractions, percentages, ratios, proportions, plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry to practical situations, and interpret bar and line graphs.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-based instructions and solve practical problems with limited standardization.
Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner, gather and analyze information, develop alternative solutions, and participate in group problem solving.
Ability to demonstrate accuracy, thoroughness, productivity, safe work practices, and a commitment to improving quality.
Ability to work near moving mechanical parts and meet the stated physical demands, including regularly standing and handling objects; frequently walking and reaching; and lifting or moving loads up to 50 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

Vocational Technical High School or Community College Advanced Manufacturing Certificate.
Ability to create programs using MasterCam, Part Maker, and Esprit software.
Working knowledge of Excel, Word, SolidWorks, and MasterCam.

Responsibilities

Load starting material into machines, unload machined parts, and deburr parts as needed for inspection and safety.
Perform daily housekeeping and maintenance checks, and coordinate machine maintenance and preventive maintenance.
Adjust tool and machine offsets, including fixture offsets and cutter compensation, and set or change speeds and feeds to optimize machining.
Set up infrequently run and high-value complex machining operations by installing and aligning fixtures, accessories, cutting tools, and tool assemblies according to instructions.
Retrieve the current CNC program and download it to the machine; observe operation, detect malfunctions or out-of-tolerance machining, and adjust the setup as needed.
Recognize tool wear, adjust offsets, identify and change tools, and select and prove alternate tools to improve processes or replace unavailable tooling.
Read CNC programs line by line and edit CNC code to improve processes, including complex edits.
Inspect parts using hand tools, specialty inspection devices, and alternate inspection methods to validate quality readings.
Load parts onto and operate a CMM, interpret CMM data to identify pattern shifts and quality trends, and validate readings using alternate methods.
Interpret blueprints, specifications, and quality plans; complete quality paperwork and computer data entry; and verify and sign off first- and last-piece inspections.
Update Green Folder documentation and notify Process Engineering according to quality-system procedures.
Disposition discrepant material and approve NMRRs within assigned dollar-value limits.
Operate more than one machine at a time when required and assist with machine-work scheduling to support efficient operations.
Work a flexible schedule when required for training or issues involving machines, tooling, or processes.
Train employees in basic operation of equipment within the Lead Machinist's competency and ensure assigned employees are trained for their job duties.
Provide input to the Value Stream Manager for annual performance reviews and disciplinary discussions, and mentor apprentices.
Identify and distinguish machine, workholding, material, tooling, and CNC-program problems; analyze information, develop solutions, and resolve problems promptly.
Consult more senior machining employees, engineers, or supervisors when exceptionally difficult problems arise.
Provide technical information and guidance to Engineering and Quality on process design.
Start up new parts with assistance from engineers and programmers for less-complex parts and assist with more-complex part startups.
Independently set up and rework parts on CNC and manual machines; analyze discrepant material and provide remedial, corrective, and preventive actions.