CNC Team Lead

Kellow Recruiting; Canada; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Kellow Recruiting client in Canada seeks an experienced CNC Team Lead to captain a skilled shop floor. You will set up and operate 3- and 5-axis machines, guide the CNC team, bridge CAM programming with management, and coach colleagues while remaining hands-on on the shop floor.

The role blends technical craftsmanship with leadership, offering opportunity to grow into broader responsibilities as the team evolves and performance strengthens.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience independently setting up and operating 3 axis and 5 axis CNC machining centres.
• Experience in custom, high mix, low volume machining.
• Advanced knowledge of tooling, fixtures, workholding, offsets, feeds, speeds and precision measurement.
• Experience guiding, training or mentoring other machinists and operators.
• The technical credibility and communication skills to become a respected leader on the floor.
• Pride in producing quality work, sharing knowledge and helping others succeed.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Provide practical guidance across multiple CNC machines and help resolve machining, setup and tooling issues.
• Employee Development: Train and support less experienced employees as they build their skills, confidence and independence.
• Standards and Accountability: Set a visible example for craftsmanship, productivity, safety, reliability and quality.
• Knowledge Sharing: Share your experience and elevate the overall technical knowledge of the CNC team.
• Communication Bridge: Connect the CNC floor with CAM programming and management by communicating progress, concerns and technical requirements.
• Leadership by Example: Remain actively involved in machining while helping the broader team succeed.
• Setup and Operation: Independently set up and operate 3 axis and 5 axis CNC machining centres, including tools, fixtures, workholding, programs and offsets.
• Precision and Quality: Interpret drawings and specifications, work to precise tolerances and verify finished quality using appropriate measuring equipment.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose issues involving tooling, setups, offsets, programs, machine performance and finished work.
• Productivity: Complete custom machining work safely and efficiently while minimizing downtime and protecting quality.
• Equipment Care: Perform routine machine checks and maintain a clean, safe and organized work area.

Skills

CNC setup/operation

5-axis machining

Mentoring machinists

Education

General Machinist 429A / Red Seal asset

Tools

3/5 axis CNC controls

Job description

For more than four decades, this established Canadian company has built a successful and highly specialized position within its industry through precision craftsmanship, quality work and longstanding customer relationships.

Its more than 20,000 square foot Durham Region facility includes six 5 axis and eight 3 axis machining centres, with large capacity and high speed machining capabilities.

This is a custom, high mix, low volume environment, not repetitive production machining. Every project brings different specifications, setups and machining requirements.

The company is busy, successful and well positioned for continued stability and growth. It is now looking for a highly experienced CNC machinist who can become a technical leader and respected captain on the shop floor.

THE ROLE

The CNC Team Lead is a hands on machining position with additional responsibility for helping the broader CNC team succeed.

You will independently set up and operate CNC equipment while providing technical guidance across multiple machines, developing less experienced employees and acting as a bridge between the CNC floor, CAM programming and management.

To use a hockey analogy, you will be the team captain. You are still on the ice doing the work, but your teammates also look to you for guidance, leadership and an example of how the game should be played.

This is an opportunity to remain connected to your craft while beginning or continuing your progression as a leader. For the right person who demonstrates the ability to strengthen both performance and people, there is potential to earn broader leadership responsibility as the company and team evolve.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU

• Leadership Compensation: Earn $40 to $45 per hour, reflecting your machining capability and broader responsibility to the team.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Extended health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid time off, uniforms and on site parking.
• Day Shift: Build your career on a consistent day schedule.
• Long Term Stability: Join a successful Canadian company with more than four decades of history and longstanding customer relationships.
• Leadership Without Leaving Your Craft: Continue machining while becoming a trusted technical leader on the floor.
• Meaningful Custom Work: Apply your skills to different moulds, tooling and machining challenges rather than repetitive production.
• Growth Potential: Gain visibility, demonstrate your leadership and potentially earn broader responsibility over time.
• Lasting Impact: Share your knowledge, develop other employees and help strengthen the future capability of the shop.

TEAM CAPTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Leadership: Provide practical guidance across multiple CNC machines and help resolve machining, setup and tooling issues.
• Employee Development: Train and support less experienced employees as they build their skills, confidence and independence.
• Standards and Accountability: Set a visible example for craftsmanship, productivity, safety, reliability and quality.
• Knowledge Sharing: Share your experience and elevate the overall technical knowledge of the CNC team.
• Communication Bridge: Connect the CNC floor with CAM programming and management by communicating progress, concerns and technical requirements.
• Leadership by Example: Remain actively involved in machining while helping the broader team succeed.

CORE CNC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Setup and Operation: Independently set up and operate 3 axis and 5 axis CNC machining centres, including tools, fixtures, workholding, programs and offsets.
• Precision and Quality: Interpret drawings and specifications, work to precise tolerances and verify finished quality using appropriate measuring equipment.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose issues involving tooling, setups, offsets, programs, machine performance and finished work.
• Productivity: Complete custom machining work safely and efficiently while minimizing downtime and protecting quality.
• Equipment Care: Perform routine machine checks and maintain a clean, safe and organized work area.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Extensive experience independently setting up and operating 3 axis and 5 axis CNC machining centres.
• Experience in custom, high mix, low volume machining.
• Advanced knowledge of tooling, fixtures, workholding, offsets, feeds, speeds and precision measurement.
• Experience guiding, training or mentoring other machinists and operators.
• The technical credibility and communication skills to become a respected leader on the floor.
• Pride in producing quality work, sharing knowledge and helping others succeed.
• General Machinist 429A certification, Red Seal endorsement or equivalent machining education is an asset but not required.

Experience with aluminum machining, mould making, automotive tooling, tool and die, aerospace, prototype work or other custom precision machining would be valuable.

If you are an accomplished CNC machinist who wants to remain hands on, become the captain of a skilled shop floor team and continue growing as a leader, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.