Lead Machinist

AppleOne Employment Services; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Lead Machinist opportunity in Santa Ana, CA, focusing on high-precision aerospace components and tooling. You will set up and operate manual and CNC equipment, maintain quality, and mentor junior machinists in a collaborative, safety-conscious shop.

You will work with engineering, production, and quality teams to optimize processes and ensure aerospace-grade tolerances are met while driving continuous improvement on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Lead hands-on machining for aerospace components and tooling.
• Setup, operation, troubleshooting, and optimization of manual/CNC equipment.

Responsibilities

• Set up and program when required manual/CNC mills, lathes, routers, grinders for tooling and hardware parts.
• Interpret drawings, CAD models, GD&T for tight aerospace tolerances.
• Inspect parts with precision tools and adjust processes for accuracy.
• Train and mentor apprentice and junior machinists on best practices and safety.
• Collaborate to improve tool paths, fixturing, and production efficiency.

Skills

Hands-on machining

Manual & CNC operation

Reading drawings & GD&T

Mentoring

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma

Technical machining training

Tools

HAAS/Cadalog-like CNC controls

Manual mills & lathes

Job description

Job Summary

A direct hire opportunity is available for an experienced Lead Machinist in Santa Ana, CA, supporting high-precision aerospace and defense manufacturing. This management-level shop floor leadership role is ideal for a hands-on machining expert who enjoys complex work, tight tolerances, mentoring others, and helping improve production performance.

The Lead Machinist will serve as a technical resource and working leader, setting up and operating manual and CNC equipment while helping ensure aerospace-quality standards are consistently met. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to critical precision components and tooling in a team-oriented manufacturing environment with strong collaboration between machining, engineering, production, and quality teams.

This is a strong fit for a machinist who values stability, technical challenge, supportive leadership, and the opportunity to help develop junior machinists while remaining actively involved in hands-on production.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up, program when required, and operate manual and CNC mills, lathes, routers, grinders, and related equipment for composite tooling and hardware components.
• Interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, work instructions, blueprints, and GD&T requirements to machine complex parts to tight aerospace tolerances.
• Monitor machining processes, inspect finished and in-process parts with precision measuring tools, and make adjustments to maintain dimensional accuracy.
• Train, mentor, and guide apprentice and junior machinists on machining best practices, safety, equipment use, and quality expectations.
• Troubleshoot machining issues and collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to improve tool paths, fixturing, workholding, and process efficiency.
• Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient machine shop environment using 5S, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement principles.

Compensation and Benefits

• Direct hire opportunity.
• Salary range: $125,000 to $140,000 per year.
• Location: Santa Ana, CA.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Lead hands-on machining operations for high-precision aerospace components and tooling.
• Support setup, operation, troubleshooting, and process optimization for manual and CNC equipment.
• Mentor junior machinists and help maintain quality, safety, and production standards.
• Partner with production, engineering, and operations teams to resolve workflow, tooling, and machining challenges.
• Must meet ITAR compliance requirements.
• Aerospace manufacturing experience is required.
• 5 to 10 years of machining experience in a similar high-precision manufacturing role.
• Strong proficiency with manual and CNC machinery, including mills, lathes, routers, and grinders.
• Experience with HAAS, Fadal, or similar CNC controls is preferred for required role success.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, CAD models, work instructions, and GD&T.
• Skilled in using precision measuring instruments, including micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, and height gauges.
• Strong knowledge of machining practices, materials, CNC operations, and tight-tolerance production requirements.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical training or certifications in machining or CNC operations preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, problem-solving ability, communication skills, and leadership presence on the shop floor.
• Ability to work in a machine shop environment with exposure to noise, lubricants, and composite dust while using required PPE.

Preferred Qualifications

• Composite tooling or composite manufacturing experience.
• Aerospace and defense industry experience with high-precision components or tooling.
• Experience machining aluminum, steel, and composite tooling board.
• Prior experience assisting with fixture and tooling development for custom molds or production hardware.
• Lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf

The pay transparency policy is available here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.