THREAD MILL OPERATOR

Job Description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced, detail-driven Thread Mill Operator with a minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience to work in our specialty thread milling operations.In this role, you won’t be sitting at a production bench cutting small fasteners. You will be setting up and operating specialized thread milling equipment to produce precision lead screws, Acme/stub-Acme threads, and custom thread profiles ranging anywhere from 4 feet to up to 40 feet in length .This work requires a true machinist’s mindset: mastering long-shaft setups, making precision cutting tools, managing tool pressure, and holding tight lead and pitch diameter tolerances across extreme workpiece lengths.

• Setup & Operation: Set up, dial in, and operate dedicated thread milling machinery to cut precision external threads on shafts up to 40 feet in length.
• Rigging & Material Handling: Safely load, position, align, and support heavy, extended-length bar stock using overhead cranes, steady rests, and roller supports.
• Tolerance & Quality Control: Hold tight dimensional tolerances (lead accuracy, pitch diameter and depth) across long passes. Inspect parts using pitch micrometers, optical comparators, thread gages, wires, and precision calipers.
• Tooling & Feeds/Speeds: Select, install, and adjust thread milling cutters, inserts, and indexables; calculate and dial in optimal feeds, speeds, and coolant flow for each alloy.
• Material Expertise: Machine a wide variety of metals, from standard carbon and chromoly alloy steels (4140/4340) to stainless steels, specialized bronzes, and high-tensile materials.
• Print/Technical Drawing Reading: Work directly from engineering drawings, prints, and customer specifications destined for multiple industry applications.

• Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of hands-on experience operating thread mills.
• Large-Part Handling: Familiarity with long, parts of varying diameters (shafts, cylinders, or rods) and understanding how to combat deflection, vibration, and thermal growth during machining.
• Gage & Inspection Proficiency: Proven ability to use precision measuring instruments (micrometers, dial indicators, thread pitch micrometers, 3-wire method).
• Material Handling Safety: Experience using overhead bridge cranes, rigging straps, and roller supports safely and independently.
• Reliability & Attention to Detail: A high degree of personal accountability—you take pride in clean thread finishes, zero scrap, and pristine tooling maintenance.
• TOOLS - You must have your own tools for this position.

• Work on What Matters: The shafts and screws you mill potentially go straight into naval and defense applications, aerospace launch assemblies, heavy rail networks, and advanced automation platforms.
• Unique Trade Craft: Operating equipment that can accurately thread a 40-foot screw is a rare and highly respected skillset. You’ll be doing work very few shops in North America can accomplish.
• Competitive Pay & Comprehensive Benefits: We reward skill, consistency, and pride in workmanship with dependable hours, competitive wages, and solid benefits.
• Stable, Respected Shop: Clean, safety-first manufacturing environment with leadership that knows the floor and respects the trade.

You should be proficient in:

• Minimum of 2 years experience on a Lees Bradnor Thread mill, ability to fabricate a part from a technical drawing is a MUST, ability to expertly make your own precision cutters.

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• Lees Bradnor Thread Mill