Machine Shop Leader

Delva Tool & Machine•Cinnaminson Township, NJ

9d•$100,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Delva Tool and Machine is an AS9100 Rev D certified aerospace and defense CNC machine shop, and we need someone to take full ownership of the shop floor. This role is not about managing from the sidelines; it's about driving spindle hour attainment as a core performance metric, building operational discipline within the department, and implementing process improvements to transform a good shop into a world-class one. The company machines precision aerospace and defense components to tight tolerances across various materials like aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and tool steels. The facility operates two shifts with advanced equipment including Vertical Mills, Lathes, Swiss Lathes, and Mazak 5-axis horizontals with robotic loaders and automated pallet systems. This is a production-focused environment, not a job shop, serving demanding customers with AS9100 Rev D standards, meaning the work directly impacts critical aircraft and defense systems.

Requirements

8 or more years of CNC machining experience
At least 3 years in a management or supervisory role
Demonstrated ability to own production KPIs: delivery, yield, scrap, utilization
Experience leading continuous improvement on a live shop floor (setup reduction, lean practices, process standardization)
Comfort partnering with Engineering and Programming on new job launches, tooling strategy, and DFM
Experience managing budgets: labor, tooling, and overhead
Ability to lead root cause analysis and drive corrective action

Nice To Haves

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
Experience in an AS9100 or NADCAP certified environment
Familiarity with 5-axis machining, Swiss lathes, or robotic/automated cell operations
Background evaluating and justifying capital equipment acquisitions
Experience representing a department in customer visits or quality audits

Responsibilities

Drive spindle hour attainment: track, report weekly, and improve this metric. Establish a visible cadence and show measurable progress within the first 90 days.
Increase shop floor throughput: identify and address bottlenecks such as setup time, changeover, and scheduling logic. Propose at least one concrete improvement initiative with an implementation plan before day 90.
Own capacity planning: forecast labor and machine needs against the production backlog to anticipate future demands.
Ensure machine health: develop and execute a preventive maintenance program to minimize downtime due to repairs.
Manage department performance: oversee KPIs including on-time delivery, first-pass yield, scrap rate, and safety. Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions when performance deviates.
Develop the team: conduct performance reviews, coach supervisors and technicians, and foster shop floor discipline that ensures operational continuity even in your absence.