Machine Shop Manager

General Matter; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

General Matter is standing up a new manufacturing facility in the Los Angeles area and seeks a hands-on Machine Shop Manager to own daily machining, fabrication, and CNC production. You will translate the production schedule into completed parts while directly managing machinists, operators, fabricators, and CNC programmers.

This role is a hands-on leadership position on the shop floor. You will drive machine utilization, on-time delivery, and scrap reduction, and you may need to jump on a

Qualifications

• 7+ years in a CNC machine shop environment with direct supervision
• Proven ability to translate production schedules into parts while leading a hand-on team

Responsibilities

• Manage daily machine shop operations across machining, fabrication, and CNC production
• Directly oversee Machinists, Machine Operators, Fabricators, and CNC Programmers
• Drive machine utilization and on-time completion while reducing scrap and rework
• Collaborate with Automation & Controls and with Quality on handoffs and inspections
• Maintain safety and quality standards on the shop floor
• Hands-on readiness to jump on a machine when needed to move parts forward

Skills

Machine shop leadership

CNC machining

OEE & scheduling

MES/ERP/CMMS

Team supervision

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Technical machining certification

Tools

CNC programming

Machining tools (mill/lathe)

Job description

General Matter is enriching uranium in America.

Our goal is to design, build, andoperatethe world’s lowest-cost enrichment services in the United States.

Our mission is to restore America’s ability to produce nuclear fuel—fuel that will power AI, advanced manufacturing, critical industries, and the next generation of nuclear reactors.

Ultimately, ourwork will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society.

We were incubated by Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by top-tier investors. Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production.

We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency.

Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable.

About This Role

We’re standing up a new manufacturing facility and need a Machine Shop Manager to own the floor. You’ll run day-to-day machining, fabrication, and CNC production, translating the production schedule into completed parts while directly managing machinists, machine operators, fabricators, and CNC programmers. This is a hands-on leadership role — you’ll drive machine utilization, on-time completion, and scrap reduction, and in the rare moment the team needs it, you’re not above jumping on a machine yourself to keep parts moving. If you want to run a shop floor instead of just watching a dashboard, this is that role.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily machine shop operations across machining, fabrication, and CNC production, translating the production schedule into completed parts.
• Directly oversee Machinists, Machine Operators, Fabricators, and CNC Programmers.
• Drive machine utilization/OEE, on-time schedule completion, and scrap and rework reduction.
• Partner with Automation & Controls on changeovers and with Quality on inspection handoffs.
• Hold machineutilization, quality, and safety standards on the shop floor.
• Be willing to jump on a machine yourself in the rare instance the team needs an extra set of hands to keep production moving.

Basic Qualifications

• Evidence of exceptional ability (prior projects, portfolio of work, completed products,etc).
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical degree or trade certification in machining/manufacturing a plus.
• 7+ years in a CNC machine shop environment, including direct supervision of machinists, operators, and fabricators.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in a fast-paced engineering or highly technical environment, with a resourceful approach to delivering under tight timelines or budget constraints.
• Hands-on CNC machining or fabrication experience — able to run a mill or lathe, not just manage from the office.
• Experience with MES, ERP, or CMMS systems for job routing, production tracking, and machine maintenance.
• Direct experience standing up or scaling a new or growing machine shop.
• Working knowledge of OEE, changeover reduction, and shop floor scheduling practices.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (aerospace, defense, or nuclear) is a plus.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours andweekendsas necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of 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, sexualorientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $110k-$140k annually.

Compensation bands aredeterminedby role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base payisdetermined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technicalcapabilitiesand internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a401(k) retirementplan.

This role is based out of our headquarters in the south bay area of Los Angeles.