CNC Lathe Setup Pro – Wheel Machining Expert

Advanced Structural Technologies; Oxnard (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Company-Sponsored Life Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Advanced Structural Technologies in Oxnard, CA, is seeking a CNC Lathe Setup Technician to own wheel machining setups from print to first article. You will read drawings with GD&T, select tooling and workholding, and optimize programs for speed and accuracy.

The role emphasizes documentation, process improvements, and QA-ready first articles. Ideal candidates have 5+ years on CNC lathes, experience with aluminum wheels, and familiarity with Haas/Okuma/Fanuc controls.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience setting up and running CNC lathes in a high-mix manufacturing environment.
• Experience machining aftermarket or OEM aluminum wheels strongly preferred; familiarity with finger chucks, cam arms, rest pads, and pie jaws is a significant plus.
• Hands-on experience with horizontal and/or vertical CNC lathes; familiarity with Haas, Okuma, and Fanuc controls preferred.
• Ability to read, edit, and write G-code at the machine.
• Deep understanding of turning processes, speeds and feeds, tool selection, and workholding strategy.
• Working knowledge of material properties and how they influence machining decisions.
• Ability to read and interpret complex mechanical drawings and GD&T.
• Experience contributing to setup documentation, work instructions, or process improvement efforts.
• Experience machining tight-tolerance parts in aerospace, defense, automotive, or other high-precision industries strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate horizontal and vertical CNC lathes including Haas, Okuma, and Fanuc controls.
• Own complete setups from blueprint to first article approval across various product lines.
• Read and interpret detailed engineering drawings and GD&T to determine the best approach for each job.
• Select tooling, workholding, and machining strategies for high-precision turning operations.
• Edit and optimize CNC programs at the machine to improve cycle time, surface finish, and tool life.
• Verify part dimensions using precision measuring instruments and ensure conformance with print tolerances.
• Diagnose and resolve machining issues, tool wear, and setup inconsistencies before they impact quality or schedule.
• Set up and run aftermarket aluminum wheel machining operations with emphasis on accuracy, surface finish, and cycle efficiency.
• Configure wheel-specific workholding including finger chucks and pie jaws to accommodate wheel geometries and sizes.
• Ensure proper clamping, centering, and support to prevent distortion and maintain bore and face concentricity across wheel families.
• Apply knowledge of aluminum alloy behavior to optimize speeds, feeds, and tooling for consistent finish quality on wheel bores, faces, and pilots.
• Develop and maintain setup sheets, work instructions, and tooling lists to support repeatable setups across operators and shifts.
• Support design for manufacturing by contributing machining expertise during process planning and first-article runs.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for scrap, rework, and non-conforming parts.
• Identify and propose process improvements that reduce cycle time, improve yield, or increase setup efficiency; document and implement changes.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineering, programming, and quality teams to refine processes and close gaps between shop floor and engineering.
• Maintain accurate setup sheets, tool lists, and inspection records to support repeatability.
• Complete in-process inspection and first article documentation in compliance with traveler and quality requirements.

Skills

CNC lathe setup

G-code editing

Root cause analysis

Tooling selection

Reading GD&T

Education

High school diploma

Technical training / Apprenticeship

Tools

Haas controls

Okuma controls

Fanuc controls

Job description

Advanced Structural Technologies in Oxnard, CA, is seeking a CNC Lathe Setup Technician to own wheel machining setups from print to first article. You will read drawings with GD&T, select tooling and workholding, and optimize programs for speed and accuracy.

The role emphasizes documentation, process improvements, and QA-ready first articles. Ideal candidates have 5+ years on CNC lathes, experience with aluminum wheels, and familiarity with Haas/Okuma/Fanuc controls.