CNC Machinist Apprenticeship

Summers Engineering; Sydney; On-site; AUD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

TAFE studies supported

Mentoring from experienced machinists

Modern CNC technology

Clear pathway to qualification

Job summary

Summers Engineering in Brookvale, NSW, is offering a full-time CNC Machining Apprenticeship. You will learn on Okuma five-axis centers, while completing a Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade at TAFE and gaining hands-on experience from skilled machinists and programmers.

We value quality and precision for aerospace and defence components. Applicants should have Year 10, Australian citizenship or PR, a keen eye for detail, a strong work ethic, and curiosity about how things are

Qualifications

• Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
• Completion of Year 10 with good marks in Maths and Technology-based subjects.
• High attention to detail and real pride in quality work.
• An A++ work ethic. You’re a team player and not my job isnt part of your vocabulary.
• Curiosity about how things are made and an interest in technology.
• Already an apprentice? Tell us what year you’re in and what machines you’ve worked on.

Responsibilities

• Read and understand engineering drawings and specifications to work out what’s needed to make a part.
• Set, load and run CNC mills, CNC lathes and five-axis machining centres, including tool changes and basic machine maintenance.
• Operate and monitor machines, including warm-up cycles, loading and unloading parts and pallets, and keeping coolant and oil levels topped up.
• Follow digital work instructions and record inspection results as you go, because in aerospace and defence, quality and traceability are everything.
• Measure and inspect parts during and after machining, with exposure to CMM inspection.
• Work towards CNC programming using CAM software such as Fusion 360.
• Help keep the factory clean, organised and running smoothly

Skills

Attention to detail

Team player

Curiosity

Education

Year 10 completion

Tools

Fusion 360

Job description

Summers Engineering has been machining precision components in Brookvale since 1952. Since the Tononcelli family took over in 2023, we’ve grown from six people and nine machines on a single floor to a team of 30, with fifteen CNC machines across two factories. We’re 100% Australian family-owned.

Today we make components for the space and sovereign defence sectors, including parts used in rockets, satellites and submarines. Many are complex five-axis parts machined to ±0.02 mm in titanium, nickel alloys, stainless steel and aluminium. Every part is CMM-inspected and fully traceable. We also run our own finishing facility, Summers Finishing in Wetherill Park. This means we can take a part all the way from raw billet to flight-ready under one AS9100D quality system.

We’re looking for CNC Machining Apprentices to grow with us. We welcome applications from people starting their apprenticeship, and from apprentices already in their second, third or fourth year who want to finish their trade somewhere they can keep learning. You’ll complete (or continue) a Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade at TAFE while learning on the job from experienced machinists and programmers.

WHY TRAIN WITH US

Modern technology: You’ll learn on modern Okuma five-axis machining centres, including four GENOS M560V-5AX machines. Two new MU-6300V five-axis machines with 10-pallet automation arrive in early 2027.

One control system: All our five-axis milling is standardised on the Okuma OSP-P500 control. Once you learn one machine, you can confidently move across the floor.

A software-driven factory: Our own in-house software runs the factory. It covers scheduling, digital work instructions and inspection records, and it’s connected live to every machine. You’ll learn how modern, automated manufacturing really works.

Real work that matters: You’ll be machining hard materials to tight tolerances for real space and defence programs, not just practice pieces.

A business that’s investing: We’re growing and investing in new machines, automation and capability. That means job security and real opportunities to progress.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Over your apprenticeship you’ll learn to:

Read and understand engineering drawings and specifications to work out what’s needed to make a part

Set, load and run CNC mills, CNC lathes and five-axis machining centres, including tool changes and basic machine maintenance

Operate and monitor machines, including warm-up cycles, loading and unloading parts and pallets, and keeping coolant and oil levels topped up

Follow digital work instructions and record inspection results as you go, because in aerospace and defence, quality and traceability are everything

Measure and inspect parts during and after machining, with exposure to CMM inspection

Work towards CNC programming using CAM software such as Fusion 360

Help keep the factory clean, organised and running smoothly

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Australian citizenship or permanent residency

Completion of Year 10 with good marks in Maths and Technology-based subjects

High attention to detail and real pride in quality work

An A++ work ethic. You’re an incredible team player and “not my job” isn’t part of your vocabulary.

Curiosity about how things are made and an interest in technology

Already an apprentice? Tell us what year you’re in, what machines you’ve worked on and how far through your TAFE studies you are. We’ll match your training and responsibilities to your experience.

BONUS POINTS

Prior work experience in engineering or manufacturing, or a school-based certificate course in engineering

Any exposure to CAD, CAM or 3D modelling (school projects count)

Comfortable with computers and software

For second to fourth year apprentices: experience setting and running CNC mills or lathes, and any CAM or programming exposure

Driver’s licence and reliable transport

WHAT WE OFFER

A full apprenticeship with TAFE studies supported by Summers

Hands‑on mentoring from experienced machinists and programmers

A clean, modern factory with some of the best CNC technology in the country

A clear pathway from apprentice to qualified machinist, CNC programmer and beyond