Machine Shop Lead

Firefly Aerospace; Briggs (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision plans

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a senior Lead Machinist to drive daily CNC operations in our north Austin-based machine shop. You will guide machinists, review programs, and ensure strict adherence to GD&T and setup procedures on Mazak, Okuma, Fanuc, and DMG MORI machines.

The role requires deep experience in aerospace manufacturing, strong leadership, and a track record of improving setup times, cycle times, and quality.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in CNC machine shop environment.
• Lead machinist, team lead, or manufacturing leadership preferred.
• Able to read, interpret, and troubleshoot CNC programs and G-code.
• Deep understanding of GD&T and precision inspection requirements.
• Experience with Mazak, Okuma, Fanuc, DMG MORI CNC controllers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support daily machine shop operations in an aerospace manufacturing setting.
• Coordinate production activities to align with the schedule and priorities.
• Provide floor-level leadership, technical guidance, and support to machinists.
• Monitor progress, machine utilization, and productivity to keep on schedule.
• Identify constraints, equipment issues, material shortages, and obstacles to delivery.
• Ensure adherence to approved processes, work instructions, and documentation.
• Verify tooling and programs before machining, and help troubleshoot issues.
• Drive continuous improvement focusing on setup reduction, cycle time, quality, and productivity.
• Promote accountability for workmanship, equipment care, and documentation.
• Participate in RCCA investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure accurate work orders, operation tracking, and production records.
• Maintain effective shift handoffs and a clean, safe work environment.

Skills

CNC machining

G-code reading

GD&T

CNC controllers

Setup knowledge

Problem-solving

Leadership

Communication

Tools

Mazak

Okuma

Fanuc

DMG MORI

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY
Want to build rockets? We are a full service machine shop supporting a new space rocket company. Do you want to be part of the excitement of scaling up for production on our spaced based portfolio. We are a high energy team looking for equals to get us to the next level. Are you ready to join us?

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and support daily machine shop operations in a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment.
• Coordinate daily production activities to ensure alignment with the established production schedule and manufacturing priorities.
• Provide direct floor-level leadership, technical guidance, and support to machinists across multiple manufacturing cells.
• Monitor production progress, machine utilization, and operational efficiency to ensure jobs remain on schedule.
• Identify and communicate production constraints, equipment issues, material shortages, and other obstacles affecting delivery.
• Ensure machinists follow approved manufacturing processes, work instructions, setup documentation, controlled programs.
• Verify operators are properly prepared before beginning machining operations, including tooling, fixtures, programs, and work order requirements.
• Assist with troubleshooting machining processes, setups, tooling issues, and equipment-related problems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with emphasis on setup reduction, cycle time optimization, quality, and productivity.
• Promote operator accountability for workmanship, equipment care, documentation accuracy, and adherence to established processes.
• Actively participate in Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations involving nonconformances, machining errors, and process failures. Assist in identifying root causes, developing corrective actions, and verifying their effectiveness to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure accurate completion of manufacturing work orders, operation tracking, and production documentation.
• Maintain effective communication between shifts through detailed production pass-downs, including completed operations, work order status, and outstanding issues..
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment while ensuring compliance with all EHS requirements.
• Communicate daily production performance, operational concerns, and improvement opportunities to machine shop management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 8 years of experience in a CNC machine shop environment.
• Previous experience in a lead machinist, team lead, or manufacturing leadership role preferred.
• Advanced understanding of CNC machining processes, including milling, turning, and multi-axis operations.
• Ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot CNC programs and G-code.
• Advanced understanding of engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and precision inspection requirements.
• Working knowledge of Mazak, Okuma, Fanuc, and other CNC machine controllers.
• Strong understanding of machine setups, work holding, tooling selection, and machining best practices.
• Ability to identify manufacturing inefficiencies and implement practical process improvements.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively with machinists, programmers, quality personnel, and management.
• Ability to prioritize work, manage competing production demands, and maintain accountability in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, productivity, and on-time delivery.

DESIRED

• Experience operating or supporting Mazak, Okuma, and DMG MORI CNC equipment.
• Experience with 3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis milling and multi-axis turning operations.
• Experience in aerospace manufacturing or other high-precision manufacturing environments.
• Experience training and developing machinists across varying skill levels.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, relocation benefits, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.