Machine Shop Lead for Rapid Prototyping & Innovation

Helion; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for?

31 Days of PTO

10 Paid holidays

401(k) match

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Helion in Everett, WA is seeking a Machine Shop Lead to supervise machinists, welders and technicians, delivering rapid prototypes and bridge-production components for engineering programs. You will balance people leadership with hands-on problem solving and ensure the shop remains a trusted partner to engineering teams.

You will drive safety, quality, and continuous improvement, coordinate day and evening shifts, and collaborate with engineers to optimize manufacturability and on-time delivery

Qualifications

• 5+ years in machining, manufacturing, and prototype fabrication.
• 3+ years leading or supervising a team.
• Strong understanding of CNC and manual machining operations, tooling, workholding, setup, and fabrication processes.
• Experience leading teams in fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing or R&D environments.
• Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, and mechanical design requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of machinists/welders/technicians, providing coaching, mentorship, performance management, and technical guidance.
• Establish daily priorities and coordinate shop resources to support aggressive prototyping, R&D, and production schedules.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement within the machine shop.
• Manage workload balancing, staffing, and resource allocation across multiple engineering programs and competing priorities.
• Partner closely with engineers to understand design intent and develop practical machining and manufacturing strategies.
• Provide design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback to improve part quality, reduce lead times, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Ensure timely delivery of machined components while maintaining high standards of workmanship and quality.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Environment Health & Safety (EHS) teams to ensure safe, aligned, and effective execution.
• Drive improvements in machining processes, tooling, workholding, programming, and shop workflows.

Skills

Team leadership

CNC machining

Manual machining

Prototyping

GD&T

Engineering drawings

Tools

CNC milling machines

Lathes

Measuring equipment

Job description

Helion in Everett, WA is seeking a Machine Shop Lead to supervise machinists, welders and technicians, delivering rapid prototypes and bridge-production components for engineering programs. You will balance people leadership with hands-on problem solving and ensure the shop remains a trusted partner to engineering teams.

You will drive safety, quality, and continuous improvement, coordinate day and evening shifts, and collaborate with engineers to optimize manufacturability and on-time delivery