Manual Maintenance Machinist

Millennium Print Group • Morrisville, NC

14h • Onsite

About The Position

At Millennium Print Group (MPG), a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company International, we are a leading manufacturer of trading card games and collectibles, located in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park and Piedmont Triad regions. Since 2014, we have established a world-class operation focused on quality, customer service, and market agility. We specialize in trading and collectible cards and have experienced significant growth, nearly tripling in size since 2019. We are seeking a forward-thinking individual to join our high-performing team and shape the future of collectible printing.

Requirements

• 7-10 years of experience as a manual machinist in a job-shop or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Expert-level knowledge of materials: aluminum, stainless steels, carbon steels, tool steels, brass, plastics, carbide, etc.
• Ability to independently select the correct material for each application when drawings lack specification.
• Mastery of blueprint reading and GD&T.
• Expertise in calculating speeds/feeds, chip loads, and machining parameters for varied materials.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and advanced practical mathematics.
• Ability to design and fabricate simple fixtures, soft jaws, and workholding solutions.
• Proven ability to take machining projects from planning to finished product with minimal supervision.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 40–50 lbs regularly; occasional lifting up to 75 lbs with assistance.
• Ability to push/pull heavy vises, fixtures, and raw materials.
• Ability to load/unload parts safely from manual lathes, mills, and grinders.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of a U.S. Department of Labor–Registered Apprenticeship Program with a Certificate of Completion as a Journeyman Machinist (or Journeyworker Machinist).
• Experience performing root-cause analysis for machining defects or dimensional issues.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement principles.
• Experience improving accuracy, setup efficiency, or cycle time.
• Ability to interpret 3D models (STEP, IGES, etc.) helpful.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of machining jobs from initial concept through finished part.
• Review drawings, sketches, models, or verbal descriptions and clarify missing or ambiguous details.
• Identify appropriate materials based on mechanical properties, application requirements, and machinability (strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, brittleness, thermal behavior).
• Develop complete machining process plans including workholding strategy, cutting tool selection, sequence of machining operations, speeds, feeds, and depth-of-cut parameters, and inspection strategy and key checkpoints.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, including complex GD&T callouts.
• Verify critical fits (press, clearance, interference) and tolerance stack-ups.
• Convert and calculate fractional/decimal dimensions, angles, radii, geometric layouts, true position, circularity, concentricity, runout, and X/Y/Z coordinate layouts.
• Identify drawing errors or manufacturability issues and propose solutions.
• Perform independent trigonometry, geometry, algebra, and right-triangle calculations to determine angles, tapers, tool offsets, bolt circles, hole locations, and compound setups.
• Calculate material allowances, shrinkage, tool deflection considerations, and finish requirements.
• Perform taper-per-inch calculations, feed rate & surface speed calculations, tolerance stack-up analysis, and layouts using sine bars, gage blocks, and precision indicators.
• Set up and operate manual lathes, mills, surface grinders, drill presses, saws, and related equipment.
• Perform precision turning, facing, boring, threading, drilling, milling, knurling, and grinding.
• Create complex features including chamfers, tapers, pockets, keyways, and precision fits.
• Align workpieces using edge finders, indicators, height gages, and other metrology tools.
• Select cutting tools appropriate for each material and operation.
• Determine optimal speeds/feeds based on material machinability, tool type, and desired finish.
• Measure and inspect to tolerances of ±0.001” or better (±0.0002” preferred).
• Use micrometers, calipers, bore gages, depth gages, height gages, dial indicators, test indicators, gauge blocks, and surface plates.
• Verify geometric tolerances and functional fits.
• Apply statistical variation concepts (mean, deviation) where applicable.
• Troubleshoot dimensional issues and apply corrective actions.
• Diagnose machining defects (chatter, taper, surface finish issues, tool wear, dimensional drift).
• Improve machining efficiency through tooling upgrades, optimized cutting strategies, and better setups.
• Suggest improvements to shop practices, fixtures, workflow, or machine maintenance.

Benefits

• A highly competitive compensation "above the industry" commensurate with experience which includes an annual incentive bonus plan
• 100% Employer-paid medical, dental base plan, vision, life/AD&D, and short-term and long-term disability, while subsidizing premiums for medical, dental, and vision for employee dependents
• 401(k) Plan with up to a 6% (dollar for dollar) Employer match
• Health Savings/Flexible Spending Account options
• Paid time off, including 10 company-paid holidays, plus 1 floating holiday
• Employee Assistance Program
• Comprehensive relocation package available for qualified candidates

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed