Machinist Intern

Microwave Power Products (MPP) • Palo Alto, CA

9d • $21 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

At Microwave Power Products (MPP), we manufacture precision electronic components and subsystems used in aerospace, defense, medical, scientific, and communications applications around the world. We are looking for an early career CNC Machinist who is eager to grow their hands-on machining skills in a high-precision manufacturing environment. This is a great opportunity for someone coming out of a machining, manufacturing, or CNC program and wants to learn from experienced machinists while working on real production hardware. If you enjoy hands-on work, problem-solving, and learning advanced machining processes, we want to hear from you. Over the course of approximately 3–6 months, you’ll support manufacturing operations by owning a hands-on machining process development project tied directly to MPP’s Klystron and Coupled Cavity Tube product lines. You’ll work closely with experienced machinists, manufacturing engineers, and production teams to help bring machining capabilities in-house for critical components. This role is designed for someone early in their machining career who is motivated to learn, grow, and develop into a highly skilled machinist.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Completion of a machining, CNC, or manufacturing program strongly preferred
• Exposure to Haas CNC mills, manual machining, or similar equipment through school, internships, or work experience preferred
• Familiarity with Mastercam or similar CAM programming software preferred
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings and basic GD&T concepts
• Strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and willingness to learn in a hands-on manufacturing environment
• Ability to safely lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Learn the manufacturing requirements and specifications for production components and support the setup and operation of CNC machining equipment alongside experienced machinists.
• Assist with CAM programming, workflow development, tooling selection, and machining sequence definition to establish a repeatable process.
• Work to improve cycle time, consistency, and process flow while supporting inspection and verification of machined parts.
• Create clear setup instructions and process documentation to enable future production and ensure maintainable manufacturing practices.
• Support machinists in day-to-day operation of CNC mills, lathes, and manual machining equipment.
• Work from engineering drawings, sketches, and written work instructions to execute assigned tasks.
• Perform machining, finishing, and secondary operations while maintaining quality and dimensional standards.
• Use calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and other inspection tools to verify part accuracy.
• Assist with machine setup, tooling changes, and material preparation to support production flow.
• Learn CAM programming fundamentals while observing and contributing to workflow improvements.
• Maintain safe, organized work practices in a production machining environment.
• Collaborate with machinists, engineers, and production teams to resolve manufacturing issues.

Benefits

• Mentorship from experienced machinists and a defined project deliverable to present at the end of your term
• Commuter benefits within the Stanford Research Park
• Snack subsidy
• 401K

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED