Machine Shop Lead

Firefly Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision plans

Parental leave

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace in Austin, TX is seeking a senior lead machinist to direct daily CNC machining operations in a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment. You will supervise machinists, optimize setups, and ensure on-time delivery while upholding safety and quality standards.

The role requires advanced knowledge of milling, turning, GD&T, and experience with Mazak, Okuma, and Fanuc controllers. You will champion process improvements, mentor staff, and partner with engineering to resolve

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in a CNC machine shop.
• Experience leading machinists or manufacturing teams.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Proficient with Mazak, Okuma and Fanuc machines.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support daily machine shop operations in a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment.
• Coordinate daily production activities to align with the schedule and priorities.
• Provide floor-level leadership, technical guidance, and support to machinists across cells.
• Monitor production progress, machine utilization, and efficiency to keep on schedule.
• Identify manufacturing constraints and communicate issues affecting delivery.
• Ensure operators follow approved processes, work instructions, and documentation.
• Verify tooling, fixtures, programs, and work order requirements before machining.
• Assist with troubleshooting machining processes, setups, and equipment issues.
• Drive continuous improvement focusing on setup reduction and cycle time optimization.
• Promote accountability for workmanship, equipment care, and safety compliance.
• Participate in RCCA investigations and develop corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure accurate completion of work orders, tracking, and production documentation.
• Maintain clear production pass-downs between shifts and report outstanding issues.

Skills

CNC Machining

G-code Troubleshooting

Leadership

Quality & GD&T

Process Improvement

Tools

Mazak controllers

Okuma controllers

Fanuc controllers

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.

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.