CNC Lathe Machinist Lead

Overview: The CNC Lathe Machinist – Lead at Athena Manufacturing is a non-supervisory, working leadership position responsible for supporting daily CNC lathe operations, quality, safety, preventative maintenance, and continuous improvement within the assigned work cell. This role provides task-level coordination, technical guidance, and peer coaching while performing advanced lathe machining work, including critical parts and prototype projects. The Lead maintains clear boundaries from supervisory and managerial authority and does not have responsibility for discipline, performance evaluations, scheduling, hiring, or termination. The role supports Athena’s 2 Second Lean (2SL) culture through standard work, waste reduction, and process optimization. Key Responsibilities Operational & Task Coordination Provide day-to-day task coordination and workflow guidance within the CNC lathe work cell in alignment with production priorities, SOPs, QMS requirements, and 2 Second Lean principles. Support job readiness by helping ensure materials, programs, tooling, and fixtures are available. Communicate machining status, constraints, and issues to leadership. Technical Leadership & Machining Serve as a technical subject‑matter resource for CNC lathe machining operations. Set up, program, adjust, and operate CNC lathe equipment, including advanced or specialized tooling. Perform test runs and validate programs prior to production release. Troubleshoot machining, tooling, or program issues and elevate as appropriate. Quality & Inspection Perform first‑piece, in‑process, and final inspections using precision measuring equipment. Identify non‑conformances and support corrective action in accordance with QMS requirements. Ensure inspection and machining documentation is completed accurately. Preventative Maintenance & Equipment Care Perform and support routine Preventative Maintenance (PM) activities. Diagnose equipment issues and report repair needs. Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area. Training, Safety & Continuous Improvement Support training and onboarding through hands‑on demonstration and peer coaching. Reinforce safe work habits and proper PPE usage. Identify productivity, quality, and cost‑reduction opportunities and communicate them to leadership. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aligned with 2 Second Lean. Additional Responsibilities Perform other Lead‑related duties as assigned by leadership. Qualifications Minimum Preferred Qualifications, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, include and are not limited to the following: High School Diploma or GED. 4+ years of CNC lathe machining experience. Demonstrated ability to perform complex machining and prototype work. Ability to provide working leadership without supervisory authority. Strong understanding of CNC programming, inspection, and tooling. Operational knowledge of Okuma OSP control and Siemens Control required. Operational knowledge of Mazak Mazatrol and EIA highly preferred. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Essential physical requirements pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, include and are not limited to the following: Arm‑Hand Steadiness- The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. Finger Dexterity- The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Multilimbed Coordination- The ability to coordinate two or more limbs while sitting, standing, or lying down. Near Vision- The ability to see details at close range. Control Precision- The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine to exact positions. Reaction Time- The ability to quickly respond. Rate Control- The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene. Trunk Strength- The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing. Ability to continuously lift 50+ lbs in an 8 hour shift and higher with assistance. Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. PREFERRED TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY Personal computers Comfortable with Technology, open to learning/coachable Made2Mange (M2M and SFM) Warehouse and Inventory Systems REQUIRED WORK CLOTHING AND PPE Attire should not interfere with job performance or safety. Safety glasses are provided by Athena Closed toe safety shoes are required #J-18808-Ljbffr