Lead CNC Machinist

RPS Recruitment; Placentia (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

RPS Recruitment is seeking a CNC Machinist A Lead in Placentia, CA for a leading aerospace manufacturer. The role blends hands-on machining with team leadership, ensuring safety, quality and on-time delivery while supporting production priorities.

You will set up and operate CNC and manual machines, read blueprints, collaborate with programmers, perform routine maintenance and drive continuous improvement with the shop floor team.

Qualifications

• Five to eight years of machine shop experience.
• Demonstrated leadership or lead level experience guiding machinists or operators.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering blueprints and follow technical instructions.
• Working knowledge of Statistical Process Control and modern CNC machining practices.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across production, tooling, and quality teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily work assignments for machinists and machine operators to support production priorities.
• Set up and operate CNC and manual machines to manufacture parts to blueprint specifications.
• Collaborate with programming teams to set up, prove out, and optimise new and existing components.
• Perform routine machine maintenance and oversee quality checks to ensure compliance with specifications.
• Coordinate workload across shifts to maintain production flow and meet delivery targets.

Skills

Leadership

Blueprint reading

SPC

CNC machining

Communication

Team coordination

Tools

CNC milling

Manual machines

Job description

**CNC Machinist A Lead**Location: Placentia, CaliforniaShift: 1st shiftAre you an experienced CNC Machinist A Lead ready to guide machinists while remaining hands on with production equipment? Do you take pride in leading teams to meet safety, quality, and delivery goals? Are you looking to step into a leadership role within a stable aerospace manufacturing environment? If so, this opportunity may be the right next step for you.Our client, is a leading designer and manufacturer of aircraft latches and latching systems. With over 80 years of aerospace heritage, they supply high performance components across commercial, military, and space programmes. Their strong reputation and sustained growth create genuine opportunities for development and long term careers.This role offers a collaborative culture with opportunities to grow and progress throughout the organisation. Employees benefit from long term stability built over decades of aerospace service, alongside competitive compensation, benefits, and paid vacation.The CNC Machinist A Lead will provide hands on leadership and technical support across the machine shop. Working closely with supervisors, programmers, and machinists, the CNC Machinist A Lead will coordinate daily activities, support production priorities, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity and quality.**As the CNC Machinist A Lead your responsibilities will include**• Lead daily work assignments for machinists and machine operators to support production priorities• Set up and operate CNC and manual machines to manufacture parts to blueprint specifications• Collaborate with programming teams to set up, prove out, and optimise new and existing components• Perform routine machine maintenance and oversee quality checks to ensure compliance with specifications• Coordinate workload across shifts to maintain production flow and meet delivery targets**As the CNC Machinist A Lead you will bring**• Five to eight years of machine shop experience within a manufacturing environment• Demonstrated leadership or lead level experience guiding machinists or operators• Ability to read and interpret engineering blueprints and follow technical instructions• Working knowledge of Statistical Process Control and modern CNC machining practices• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across production, tooling, and quality teamsThis CNC Machinist A Lead opportunity is well suited to individuals who enjoy balancing technical machining responsibilities with team leadership. The CNC Machinist A Lead will play an important role in supporting operational efficiency and building a productive shop floor culture within a well established aerospace manufacturer.All successful applicants will be contacted within two working days.