Lead Machinist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary
A direct hire opportunity is available for an experienced Lead Machinist in Santa Ana, CA, supporting high-precision aerospace and defense manufacturing. This management-level shop floor leadership role is ideal for a hands-on machining expert who enjoys complex work, tight tolerances, mentoring others, and helping improve production performance.

The Lead Machinist will serve as a technical resource and working leader, setting up and operating manual and CNC equipment while helping ensure aerospace-quality standards are consistently met. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to critical precision components and tooling in a team-oriented manufacturing environment with strong collaboration between machining, engineering, production, and quality teams.

This is a strong fit for a machinist who values stability, technical challenge, supportive leadership, and the opportunity to help develop junior machinists while remaining actively involved in hands-on production.

Key Responsibilities
- Set up, program when required, and operate manual and CNC mills, lathes, routers, grinders, and related equipment for composite tooling and hardware components.
- Interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, work instructions, blueprints, and GD&T requirements to machine complex parts to tight aerospace tolerances.
- Monitor machining processes, inspect finished and in-process parts with precision measuring tools, and make adjustments to maintain dimensional accuracy.
- Train, mentor, and guide apprentice and junior machinists on machining best practices, safety, equipment use, and quality expectations.
- Troubleshoot machining issues and collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to improve tool paths, fixturing, workholding, and process efficiency.
- Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient machine shop environment using 5S, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement principles.

Compensation and Benefits
- Direct hire opportunity.
- Salary range: $125,000 to $140,000 per year.
- Location: Santa Ana, CA.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

The Know Your Rights poster is available here:

-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf

The pay transparency policy is available here:

- transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf

For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, the Company is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E - Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

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\nCompany Description

This company offers growth and a great group of people to work with.

Company Description

This company offers growth and a great group of people to work with.