Lead Machinist — Aerospace CNC Production Leader

Telemetry Today LLC; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Quantum Space seeks an experienced Lead Machinist for its Tulsa, OK machine shop supporting the Ranger spacecraft program. You will lead machinists and inspectors, program multi-axis CNC mills/ lathes, and drive first-article and in-process inspection to ensure high-tolerance propulsion and structural components for flight hardware.

You will collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to improve manufacturability, develop fixtures and tooling, and scale processes as production ramps.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency
• 5+ years of experience with G-code, setup, operation, and/or programming of CNC mills and lathes
• 3+ years of experience machining to tolerances of ±0.0005" or tighter and verifying them with precision inspection equipment
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, models, and GD&T per ASME Y14.5

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of machinists and quality inspectors; set daily priorities, maintain the shop schedule, and act as point of contact when management is unavailable
• Set up, program, and operate multi-axis CNC mills and lathes to produce propulsion, structural, and tooling components from aluminum, titanium, stainless, Inconel, and engineered plastics
• Hold tight tolerances and surface finishes on flight hardware, including sealing surfaces, fluid fittings, and precision bores
• Perform first-article and in-process inspection using CMM, optical comparators, and hand gauges; record results and drive corrective actions to improve part quality
• Review drawings, models, and GD&T with design and manufacturing engineers; give early, data-backed feedback on manufacturability, tolerancing, and material selection
• Design and build fixtures, soft jaws, and work holding that make parts repeatable from the first article through rate production
• Write and maintain setup sheets, tool lists, and work instructions so any qualified machinist can run the job
• Cross-train the team in CNC setup, inspection, and shop practices; coach junior machinists and raise the skill level of the shop
• Own tooling, cutter inventory, and preventive maintenance so machines stay up and output is predictable
• Enforce shop safety, FOD control, and material traceability for flight hardware
• Track throughput, scrap, and rework; communicate shop status, readiness, and risks to engineering and production leadership
• Work with the Hawthorne and Rockville teams to bring proven machining processes into Tulsa, and document parameters so they scale as the facility ramps to rate

Skills

CNC setup/operation

G-code programming

First-article inspection

Tools

Mastercam

Fusion 360

NX

SolidWorks

Creo

CMM programming

Job description

Quantum Space seeks an experienced Lead Machinist for its Tulsa, OK machine shop supporting the Ranger spacecraft program. You will lead machinists and inspectors, program multi-axis CNC mills/ lathes, and drive first-article and in-process inspection to ensure high-tolerance propulsion and structural components for flight hardware.

You will collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to improve manufacturability, develop fixtures and tooling, and scale processes as production ramps.