Lead CNC Machinist - Hands-on Aerospace Leader

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

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.