CNC Machinist First Shift

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

Compensation details: 25-35 Hourly Wage

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