CNC Machinist First Shift

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

What Makes This Different

Most CNC machinist jobs in this area are running the same part every day. This isn’t that job.

At Acme, you’ll machine large, complex castings and forgings for aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation customers — programs where the tolerances are tight, the materials are demanding, and getting it right the first time actually matters. Our machinists work from prints, think through setups, and own the quality of what they produce. If you’re tired of being a button-pusher and want a shop that respects your skill, this is the place.

We are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, PE-backed, and actively growing toward $300M. We’ve been in Elk Grove Village since 1948. The machines are late-model, the shop is clean, and the 1st Shift runs Monday through Friday.

Position Summary

The CNC Machinist — 1st Shift operates CNC milling and/or turning equipment to produce precision-machined components to close tolerances and exact finish specifications. This role is suited for an experienced machinist who can read prints, perform simple setups, run close-tolerance work with consistency, and take ownership of part quality — not someone who waits to be told what to do next.

You’ll work on a wide variety of jobs and part families — Acme is a job shop, not a production line. That means every week looks a little different, and the ability to adapt, read situations, and apply good machining judgment is what separates the people who thrive here from the people who don’t.

What You’ll Do

CNC Machine Operation

• Operate CNC machining centers and/or CNC lathes to produce precision components per engineering drawings, job travelers, and quality plans
• Run close-tolerance work consistently — holding ±0.001? or tighter is routine; knowing when you’re about to go out of tolerance before it happens is expected
• Monitor in-process dimensional conformance using calipers, micrometers, bore gages, thread gages, height gages, dial indicators, and other precision measurement tools
• Adjust tool offsets to maintain tolerance as tools wear; know the difference between a wear offset and a geometry problem
• Identify and communicate tool wear, breakage, chatter, surface finish problems, or other process concerns to the setup machinist or supervisor before running scrap
• Operate multiple machines or setups concurrently where workload and skill level allow

Setup (Simple to Moderate)

• Perform simple to moderate CNC setups independently — load tooling, establish offsets, verify first piece before running
• Support setup machinists on more complex setups — running second operations, re-chucking parts, verifying tooling after a tool change
• Edit tool offsets, feeds, and speeds at the control to achieve correct results; escalate program-level issues to the setup machinist or programmer
• Communicate setup issues, tooling needs, and job status to production supervision in a timely manner

Blueprint Reading & Inspection

• Read and interpret engineering drawings including GD&T callouts, surface finish specifications, material and process notes, and tolerance requirements
• Select the correct measurement tool for the feature being checked; know when to use a gage versus a micrometer versus an indicator
• Perform in-process inspection per control plan and traveler requirements; document results as required
• Perform final inspection on completed parts before releasing to the next operation or to Quality

Quality & Safety

• Produce work that meets all requirements on the first try — not because someone is checking, but because you take pride in it
• Report nonconforming material immediately using Acme’s nonconformance process; do not pass suspect parts to the next operation
• Follow all ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D QMS requirements including traveler sign-offs, inspection records, and controlled document use
• Maintain a clean, organized work area and machine; follow 5S standards for the production floor
• Comply with all safety requirements including PPE, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and safe handling of coolant and cutting fluids

Team Contribution

• Communicate job status, open issues, and anything the next shift needs to know — clear handoffs keep production moving
• Support less-experienced operators and finisher-trainees with practical guidance when the opportunity arises
• Participate in continuous improvement activities: speak up when you see a better way, a recurring problem, or a waste of time

What We’re Looking For

Required

• 5+ years of CNC machining experience in a precision manufacturing, job shop, or contract manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated ability to hold close tolerances consistently — ±0.001? or tighter on a regular basis
• Strong blueprint reading ability including GD&T, surface finish callouts, material specifications, and tolerance interpretation
• Proficiency with standard precision measurement tools: calipers, micrometers, bore gages, thread gages, height gages, dial indicators
• Ability to perform simple to moderate CNC setups independently (tool load, offset establishment, first-piece verification)
• Ability to adjust offsets and recognize when a process is drifting out of tolerance
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent; vocational / technical training in machining is a plus
• Ability to lift and move workpieces and fixtures up to 50 lbs.; team lift for heavier components
• Ability to read and write English; basic computer skills

Preferred — The Candidates We Get Excited About

• FANUC control experience (FANUC 0i, 30i, or 31i series) — this is what most of our machines run
• Experience with large-format CNC equipment: vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes
• Experience machining castings, forgings, or other near-net-shape workpieces — this is most of what we machine
• Experience in an ISO 9001 or AS9100D certified environment
• Experience running 4th or 5th axis work
• Familiarity with aerospace, defense, power generation, or heavy industrial parts and the quality standards that come with them

Why Machinists Stay at Acme

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance — Day 1, no waiting period
• Company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Weekly pay
• Gainsharing bonus opportunities
• Tuition assistance for continued learning
• Clean, climate-controlled gage room in a stable precision manufacturing environment

About Acme Industries

Since 1948, Acme Industries has been a trusted precision manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation markets from our facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. We are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, and we specialize in large, complex machined castings and forgings for customers who cannot afford mistakes. Our machinists don’t run the same part every day — they solve new problems, machine difficult materials, and produce work that ends up in some of the most demanding applications in the world.

If you’re a skilled machinist looking for a shop that will respect your craft and give you challenging work, we want to talk to you.