Machine Shop Supervisor

Hawboldt Industries; Chester; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP with company match

Safety allowances

Training & development

Long-term growth

Job summary

Hawboldt Industries, a Canadian-owned Chester, NS manufacturer, seeks a Machine Shop Supervisor to lead daily operations in our South Shore facility. You will mentor skilled machinists, ensure production, quality, safety, and on-time delivery, and collaborate across engineering, quality, and production control.

Ideal candidates have a Red Seal or equivalent experience, 5+ years in machining, and strong CNC/manual know-how.

Qualifications

• Red Seal Machinist certification preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of machining experience in a custom manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of CNC and manual machining operations.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to workplace safety and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily Machine Shop operations and personnel.
• Coordinate workflow and production priorities to meet schedules and customer commitments.
• Assign work and provide technical guidance to machinists.
• Monitor productivity, labour utilization, quality, and efficiency.
• Promote and enforce safe work practices and company policies.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee development.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and leadership to team members.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and other departments.
• Lead continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Coordinate equipment maintenance requirements and support operational uptime.

Skills

CNC machining

Manual machining

Reading drawings

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Safety awareness

Continuous improvement

Team supervision

Organizational skills

Education

Red Seal Machinist certification

Equivalent experience

Tools

CNC machines

Manual milling

Engineering drawings

Job description

Location: Chester, Nova Scotia (South Shore, approx 40 minutes from Halifax)

Employment Type: Full‑Time, Permanent

Compensation: Starting at $44 per hour

About Hawboldt Industries

Hawboldt Industries is a leading manufacturer of custom marine and industrial equipment serving global markets including marine defence, coast guard, naval, offshore, and commercial customers. Our team designs, machines, fabricates, assembles, and tests high-quality engineered products from our facility on Nova Scotia’s South Shore.

Position Summary

The Machine Shop Supervisor is responsible for leading the daily operations of the Machine Shop department. Reporting to the Manufacturing Manager, this position provides hands‑on leadership to skilled machinists while ensuring production, quality, safety, and delivery objectives are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise daily Machine Shop operations and personnel.
• Coordinate workflow and production priorities to meet schedules and customer commitments.
• Assign work and provide technical guidance to machinists.
• Monitor productivity, labour utilization, quality, and efficiency.
• Promote and enforce safe work practices and company policies.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee development.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and leadership to team members.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and other departments.
• Lead continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Coordinate equipment maintenance requirements and support operational uptime.

Qualifications

• Red Seal Machinist certification preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of machining experience in a custom manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of CNC and manual machining operations.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to workplace safety and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• Group RRSP with employer matching
• Safety boot and prescription safety glasses allowances
• Training and development opportunities
• Stable long‑term employment with opportunities for advancement

Why Work With Us

Hawboldt Industries is a Canadian‑owned company located in Chester, Nova Scotia, where we have designed and built custom marine equipment under one roof since 1906. Our machinists work on interesting, non‑production projects, including lightweight aluminum winches for research vessels, launch and recovery systems (LARS) for oceanographic and polar missions, and custom marine cranes, winches, and deck equipment used on workboats, patrol vessels, and scientific platforms worldwide.

Much of our work is one‑off or small‑batch, engineered to meet demanding weight, space, and performance requirements. Machinists are involved throughout the build and see their work go from raw material through machining, assembly, and in‑house testing, often supporting real‑world marine research, defence, and exploration missions.

We offer competitive pay in the South Shore, long‑term stability, and a collaborative shop culture where engineering and manufacturing work closely together. If you value custom machining, technical challenge, and pride in what you build, this is a shop where your skills are fully used.

We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring process. Accommodations due to accessibility are available on request for candidates taking part in the selection process.

The above summary is to be used as a guideline only and may not incorporate all functions of the job.