Machine Shop Lead

Sikky Manufacturing LLC; Rosedale (MD); On-site; USD 100,565,000 - 114,616,000; Full time

Job summary

Sikky Manufacturing LLC and XGen Manufacturing operate under one roof, delivering precision CNC machining and high-performance automotive components. The Machine Shop Lead will supervise CNC mills and lathes, mentor machinists, and partner with engineering to optimize processes and schedules.

You will drive quality, safety, and efficiency on tight-tolerance projects across automotive, defense, and aerospace programs, while advancing shop capabilities and team development.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a precision CNC machine shop.
• Leadership of floor technicians.
• Deep knowledge of multi-axis CNC setup, tool offset, speeds/feeds, and blueprint reading.
• Background in automotive racing, defense, or aerospace preferred.
• Technical school degree or apprenticeship.
• Able to lift up to 75 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily work assignments and balance capacities to hit production deadlines.
• Collaborate with Production Manager on scheduling, process improvements, and tool investments.
• Coach machinists to build a high-performance team.
• Assist onboarding and growth of shop talent.
• Set up and operate complex CNC mills and lathes for batches and prototypes.
• Work with CNC programmers and engineering to improve processes.
• Maintain primary contact for machine maintenance and tooling vendors.
• Support R&D for new Sikky product development and XGen contracts.
• Inspect first-article and production parts against CAD files.
• Monitor tooling/inventory and coordinate with procurement.
• Enforce safety protocols and keep the workspace clean.

Skills

CNC machining

Leadership

Blueprint reading

Tool offsets

Speeds and feeds

Team mentoring

Safety protocols

Education

Technical degree or apprenticeship

Tools

CNC mills

CNC lathes

G-code

Job description

About Sikky & XGen Manufacturing

Sikky Manufacturing and XGen Manufacturing operate under one roof as a powerhouse of precision engineering, advanced CNC machining, and American craftsmanship. While

About Sikky & XGen Manufacturing

Sikky Manufacturing and XGen Manufacturing operate under one roof as a powerhouse of precision engineering, advanced CNC machining, and American craftsmanship. While Sikky leads the world in elite, high-performance automotive components, XGen delivers aerospace-level, custom-contract machining for defense, tech, and industrial applications. Driven by rapid growth and ongoing investment in state-of-the-art machinery, we are seeking a hands-on Machine Shop Lead to take ownership of floor operations, mentor our team, and help build the foundation for our expanding machining department.

Role Summary

The Machine Shop Lead balances shop floor supervision with technical execution. You will oversee daily workflows, optimize production schedules, and troubleshoot complex setups on CNC mills and lathes while ensuring quality standards across both performance automotive and tight-tolerance defense/industrial projects.

Compensation:

$35 - $40 hourly

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience in a precision CNC machine shop environment.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, delegate, and mentor floor technicians.
• Technical Mastery: Deep knowledge of multi-axis CNC mill/lathe setup, tool offset compensation, speeds/feeds, and blueprint reading.
• Industry Preference: Background or passion for automotive racing, defense, or aerospace manufacturing is highly valued.
• Education: Technical school degree, completed apprenticeship, or equivalent practical experience.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to lift up to 75 lbs unassisted.

Responsibilities

• Department Leadership & Strategy
• Lead daily work assignments, delegate floor operations, and balance machine capacities to hit production deadlines.
• Partner directly with the Production Manager on schedule optimization, process improvements, and future machine tool investments.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and skill development to machinists and operators to build a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
• Participate in performance reviews and assist in onboarding and growing new shop talent.
• Technical Execution & R&D
• Set up, adjust, and operate complex CNC mills and lathes for high-precision batch runs and prototype parts.
• Collaborate closely with CNC Programmers and Engineering to refine part processes, improve cycle times, and optimize NC code.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for CNC machine maintenance, repair technicians, and tooling vendors.
• Support R&D initiatives for new Sikky product development and XGen contract manufacturing specs.
• Operations & Quality Control
• Inspect first-article and production parts against CAD files and tight engineering prints.
• Monitor consumable inventories (tooling, inserts, raw stock) and coordinate needs with procurement.
• Enforce safety protocols and company SOPs, and maintain a clean, organized work environment.