Machinist

Light Composites, Inc.•Poway, CA

21d•$35 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of this lead role is to ensure the continuous flow of machined parts through the CNC shop during the second shift, when no supervisor, engineer, or manager is present. This individual is the sole technical authority on the floor and must possess the self-sufficiency to perform all tasks of a Machine Shop Supervisor at the machine level, including setup, program proving, editing, troubleshooting, and quality assessment. This is a working lead position where the majority of the time is spent on the machines, with coordination and leadership responsibilities layered on top. The role requires executing the released plan, making technical decisions, and re-sequencing work as needed to maintain production flow and machine utilization.

Requirements

5–7 years hands-on CNC machining experience, including 3- and 4-axis VMC setup and operation.
Proven ability to work without technical backup, capable of setting up, proving out, and troubleshooting jobs independently.
Ability to read and edit G-code; familiarity with Haas CNC controls is strongly preferred.
Ability to read and interpret GD&T on engineering drawings.
Strong knowledge of cutting tools, work-holding, speeds and feeds for composites, aluminum, and plastics.
Experience in an AS9100 or ISO 9001 certified shop.
Strong written communication skills, as the nightly pass-down is a core deliverable.
Comfortable directing peers while running a machine.
Must be on the floor, not in an office; this is a working lead role.
Willing and able to run any machine in the department when needed to maintain the schedule.

Nice To Haves

Prior lead, senior machinist, or off-shift experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience machining carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and composite sandwich structures.
Background in medical device or aerospace manufacturing.
Bilingual English/Spanish.
CAM programming experience (Fusion 360, Mastercam, or equivalent) for program verification.
Experience with CMM operation.

Responsibilities

Oversee and execute the second-shift production queue, ensuring machine utilization and addressing any idle spindles.
Re-sequence work and operators within the shift in response to machine downtime or job stalls, documenting deviations.
Assign second-shift operators to Haas machines based on skill, job complexity, and cycle time.
Stage tooling, fixtures, and materials for current and upcoming jobs to facilitate efficient starts.
Track and flag deviations in cycle times from programmed values.
Operate any machine in the department to cover operator absences and maintain the production schedule.
Perform shift handoff communication, including reviewing the day's status, priorities, and problem jobs with the Machine Shop Supervisor.
Leave a detailed written end-of-shift pass-down report covering production, issues, deviations, and required morning actions.
Escalate critical issues via phone when they cannot wait until morning.
Document quality escapes, scrap events, tool failures, and near-misses to the same standard as first shift.
Provide direct feedback to operators and report performance and attendance issues to the Supervisor.
Set up and prove out CNC jobs, verifying work-holding, tooling, offsets, and first-piece dimensions.
Read, interpret, and edit G-code on the floor to correct issues or optimize cycle time.
Troubleshoot machining issues such as chatter, tool deflection, dimensional drift, and surface finish problems.
Maintain setup sheets, tool lists, and work instructions, flagging any gaps or errors.
Manage tooling availability and proactively address tool wear, flagging reorder needs.
Provide feedback on fixture issues, DFM, and program problems to manufacturing engineering through the Supervisor.
Enforce AS9100D / ISO 9001:2015 work instructions for all CNC operations.
Ensure first article inspections are completed and documented, making the first-piece call when QC is not present.
Verify in-process and final dimensions meet drawing tolerances.
Quarantine suspect parts and material for morning QC review with a written description of the concern.
Ensure operators use calibrated inspection equipment correctly and follow FOD prevention practices.
Set the tone for safety, quality, and accountability on second shift.
Train and coach second-shift operators on machine operation, setup, inspection, and safety.
Serve as the first point of contact for operator questions regarding tooling, offsets, and setup.
Track attendance and report issues to the Supervisor.
Maintain a safe work environment by enforcing PPE, machine guarding, chip management, and housekeeping standards.
Secure the shop at the end of the shift, ensuring machines are safe, work areas are clean, and the building is secured.