Chief Machining Officer - Scale Precision & Production

Freeform; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, Dental & Vision insurance

Traditional & Roth 401(k)

Paid vacation & holidays

Parental leave

Free daily catered lunch & dinner

Casual dress & flexible hours

Team events

Job summary

Freeform Technologies in Hawthorne, CA is hiring a Head of Manufacturing (Machining) to lead all machining operations, from CNC programming to post-processing. You will mentor a growing team of machinists, programmers, and engineers while driving aggressive delivery timelines and expanding capacity on state-of-the-art equipment.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in CNC machining, a strong production mindset, and a track record of scaling high-precision workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of CNC machining experience, including leadership of machining operations.
• Proven track record of scaling teams and machining workflows in high-mix, high-precision environments.
• Deep understanding of CNC milling, tooling, fixturing, inspection, and process control.
• Strong operational mindset balancing execution and long-term strategy.

Responsibilities

• Own all machining operations, including programming, setup, operation, inspection, and finishing.
• Lead, mentor, and scale a team of machinists, programmers, and manufacturing engineers.
• Drive aggressive delivery timelines with a production-first mindset.
• Oversee daily shop operations and long-term expansion of machining capacity.
• Maximize utilization of 5-axis DMG Mori machining centers, including probing, automation, and palletization.
• Use inspection data and process feedback to improve programs and toolpaths.
• Define machining strategies and standards for precision post-processing of metal 3D printed parts.
• Partner with engineering to influence part design for faster, more reliable machining.

Skills

CNC machining leadership

Team leadership

Production scheduling

5-axis machining

Process optimization

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

DMG Mori 5-Axis

Siemens controls

Mastercam CAM

CMM & metrology

Job description

Freeform Technologies in Hawthorne, CA is hiring a Head of Manufacturing (Machining) to lead all machining operations, from CNC programming to post-processing. You will mentor a growing team of machinists, programmers, and engineers while driving aggressive delivery timelines and expanding capacity on state-of-the-art equipment.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in CNC machining, a strong production mindset, and a track record of scaling high-precision workflows.