Cnc Lathe Machinist

At a glanceCompany: MIT Lincoln LaboratoryLocation: Lexington, MA 02420Pay: $42.50 – $52.54/hourJob Type: Full TimeRelocation Assistance: AvailableExperience: 5+ yearsMachines: CNC lathe with live tooling (DMG Mori NLX 2000SY a plus)Controls: Celos (experience a plus)Software: CAM and 2D/3D CADWhy this job is worth consideringMIT Lincoln Laboratory's Fabrication Engineering Group (Group 72) builds low-volume, high-complexity hardware for national security programs — space imaging, high-energy lasers, ground-based radar, and undersea communications. This opening is centered on CNC lathe work with live tooling and conversational programming, with room to grow into milling, diamond turning, and additive manufacturing as your skills expand. You'll develop your own fabrication strategy, design and build custom fixtures, and work with real autonomy on most jobs while collaborating closely with other machinists and engineers on the more complex work.What you'll be doingSet up, operate, and conversationally program CNC lathes with live tooling for prototype and low-volume production workDevelop a fabrication strategy for each job and identify the tooling and fixturing it requiresDesign and build custom fixtures with minimal oversight on most hardwareRead mechanical drawings and apply GD&T to hold precise tolerancesProgram using CAM software and work from 2D/3D CAD modelsCollaborate with other machinists and engineers on more complex or unusual hardwareKeep a clean, organized, and safety-compliant work areaTake on advanced training in milling, diamond turning, or additive manufacturing as your skills growMachines, controls and softwareThis role centers on CNC lathe work with live tooling and conversational programming; a DMG Mori NLX 2000SY running a Celos controller is a plus. Experience with manual and CNC mills and manual lathes is valued as well. Programming is done with CAM software from 2D/3D CAD models, alongside standard MS Office tools.What we're looking forRequired5+ years of direct experience in setup, operation, and conversational programming of CNC lathe with live tooling2+ years of experience programming with CAM softwareStrong reading of mechanical drawings and understanding of GD&TAbility to design and fabricate basic fixturesComfortable using basic hand tools and inspection equipment (calipers, thread/pin gauges, micrometers, dial indicators, etc.)Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a team environmentEnthusiasm for learning new fabrication techniques, technologies, and machine toolsAbility to lift up to 50 lbsPreferredGraduation from a two-year technical schoolPrevious experience in a high-mix, low-volume job shop environmentExperience with the DMG Mori NLX 2000SY and Celos controllerExperience with manual and CNC mills and manual lathesExperience machining aluminum, titanium, Invar, stainless steel, Inconel, metal matrix composites, or various polymersExperience mentoring less experienced machinistsFamiliarity with digital fabrication tools such as Model Based Definition (MBD) and PLM software (Aras Innovator)Pay, Benefits and Schedule$42.50–$52.54 per hour, based on experience. Standard hours, with occasional overtime to meet critical program milestones. Relocation assistance is available for this role.About MIT Lincoln Laboratory and ApplyMIT Lincoln Laboratory pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to design, model, and fabricate technologies and prototype systems for national security applications, including space imaging, high-energy lasers, long-range laser communications, ground-based radar, and undersea communication terminals. Its Fabrication Engineering Group (Group 72) works alongside program teams from initial design through manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing to build low-volume, high-complexity hardware in program integration spaces, cleanrooms, and space simulation chambers.Ready to bring your CNC lathe skills to national-security prototype work? Apply through hireCNC today.