CNC Milling Set Up Operator - Second Shift

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The CNC Mill Setup Technician is an experienced, self-sufficient machinist responsible for setting up, proving out, and running complex CNC milling programs on second shift with minimal supervision. This is not an operator role — it is a setup role. The right candidate owns the machine from job launch to last part, troubleshoots independently, holds tight tolerances on high-mix, low-volume aerospace and defense components, and has the instinct and experience to be the last line of defense on second shift.

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform complete job setups on CNC vertical and/or horizontal machining centers from engineering drawings, routers, and work orders
• Select, install, and qualify tooling, fixtures, and workholding for each job
• Prove out new and revised programs; make offsets, edits, and parameter adjustments as needed to achieve first-article approval
• Run in-process and final inspection using precision measurement tools — micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, dial indicators, and CMM where applicable
• Read and interpret GD&T and blueprints accurately and independently
• Diagnose and resolve machine alarms, tooling failures, surface condition issues, and out-of-tolerance conditions without waiting for engineering or programming support
• Maintain accurate production records, setup sheets, first-article documentation, and non-conformance reports
• Transition jobs cleanly to operators once setups are proven; document setups clearly for repeatability
• Support shift continuity by communicating open issues, in-process jobs, and priorities to day shift at turnover
• Follow all safety, quality, and housekeeping standards; support 5S on the shop floor
• Participate in cross-training and knowledge transfer as the team grows

Qualifications

Required:

• 5+ years of CNC milling experience with demonstrated setup responsibility — not operator-only background
• Ability to set up jobs start to finish independently, including workholding, tooling, and program prove-out
• Proficiency reading blueprints and GD&T
• Experience with precision measurement and first-article inspection
• Ability to troubleshoot out-of-tolerance conditions, tool wear issues, and machine alarms independently
• Commitment to second shift on a consistent, long-term basis

Preferred:

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or heavy industrial precision manufacturing
• Familiarity with FANUC or Siemens controls
• Exposure to AS9100 or ISO quality management systems
• Experience with high-mix, low-volume complex component manufacturing
• Experience informally training or mentoring less experienced operators

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly wage commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
• A stable, growing company with 70+ years of history and a long-term ownership mindset
• Complex, interesting work — high-mix aerospace and defense components, not repetitive production runs
• Active investment in workforce development and apprenticeship — room to grow into training, lead, and mentorship roles

Core Values

At ACME, we are Dedicated, Persistent, Creative, and Supportive. We're looking for someone who gets the job done, thinks through problems, finds better ways, and helps the team win.