CNC Setter/Operator

Contek Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Halstead; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Skill Development

Career Growth

Job summary

Contek Recruitment Solutions Ltd in Halstead, Essex, is seeking a reliable CNC Setter/Operator to join our engineering and manufacturing team. You will set and operate CNC mills and Mecal CNC machining centre, as well as manual milling machines and lathes, producing aluminum and stainless steel components to tight tolerances.

The role focuses on safe operation, quality checks, and opportunity to develop skills, including potential CNC programming training and career growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in precision machining
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings
• Competence in setting and operating CNC and manual machining equipment

Responsibilities

• Set and operate CNC mills and Mecal CNC machining centre
• Operate manual milling machines and lathes
• Perform in-process checks and verify tolerances
• Maintain machine area cleanliness and report issues
• Organise workflow and communicate issues with supervisors
• Assist in mechanical assembly and equipment setup

Skills

CNC setting & operation

Reading engineering drawings

Quality control checks

Job description

CNC Setter/Operator

Position Type: Permanent / Full-Time
Location: Halstead, Essex
Hours: Monday to Thursday (8 until 4:30) & Friday (8 until 3:30)

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated CNC Setter & Operator to join our busy manufacturing team. In this role, you will be responsible for setting and safely operating a diverse range of engineering machinery—including manual vertical milling machines and manual lathes—with opportunities to develop your skills further. You will also set and operate CNC mills and our Mecal CNC machining centre, utilizing hand tools, saws, punches, and press tools to produce top-quality components in aluminum and stainless steel.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Duties

• Machining & Production: Set and operate machinery following safe practices for CNC/manual milling, manual turning, sawing, punching, drilling, and assembly.
• Quality Control: Perform in-process checks and verify machine/tooling settings to confirm accurate tolerances, proper machine functions, and full conformance to drawing specifications.
• Reading Technical Specs: Work from engineering drawings, sketches, manuals, specifications, or sample parts to determine dimensions, tolerances, sequence of operations, and setup requirements.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Maintain the cleanliness of your machine and work area, detect equipment malfunctions or out‑of‑tolerance machining, make necessary adjustments within your skill level, and report issues to your supervisor.
• Workflow Efficiency: Organize your work area before and after processing parts, and stack completed components properly on blocks or pallets to eliminate double handling.
• Communication: Maintain high motivation on routine tasks, communicate production‑related items and equipment malfunctions to supervisors, and collaborate with management, production control, and quality personnel.

What We Offer

• Skill Development: Ongoing training and opportunities to expand your capabilities, including potential training in CNC Programming for our Mecal machining centre.
• Career Growth: A hands‑on role within a dynamic engineering and manufacturing environment.

If you have experience in precision machining, operating manual or CNC equipment, and working with metals like aluminum and stainless steel, we would love to hear from you.