Machine Shop Manager

Exact Metrology: A Division of In-Place Machining Company; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Exact Metrology: A Division of In-Place Machining Company seeks a Machine Shop Manager with a strong shop-floor background to lead a team of skilled CNC and manual machinists. You will own daily operations, drive safety, quality, and on-time delivery, while staying hands-on with setups and problem-solving.

You'll mentor machinists, refine tooling and processes, and shape a culture of craftsmanship and accountability on the shop floor. This role rewards ownership and practical leadership.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of machining experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Extensive CNC machining experience with vertical machining centers and turning centers; horizontal experience preferred.
• Expert understanding of tooling, setups, troubleshooting, and tight-tolerance machining.
• Strong blueprint reading and GD&T knowledge; CAM programming experience (Mastercam).

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations across CNC mills, turning centers, and manual machining.
• Set the tone for safety, quality, accountability, and teamwork.
• Improve setup efficiency, tooling strategies, feeds, speeds, and cycle times; reduce downtime.
• Mentor machinists from apprentices to experienced operators.
• Ensure on-time delivery and first-pass quality.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Tools

Mastercam

G-code

FANUC controls

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Description

A Machinist's Opportunity to Lead

You've spent your career mastering the trade. You've solved the jobs others couldn't. You've built setups, improved processes, trained younger machinists, and earned the respect of the people around you.

Now it's time to take ownership of the entire operation.

We're looking for a Machine Shop Manager who comes from the shop floor, not the boardroom. Someone who understands machining because they've lived it. A leader who enjoys being around the machines, helping their team succeed, and tackling the toughest manufacturing challenges head-on.

This isn't a role for someone who wants to sit behind a desk all day. It's for a skilled machinist ready to lead a high-performing shop while staying connected to the work that matters.

Requirements

Why Experienced Machinists Join Us

• Lead an established team of skilled CNC and manual machinists
• Stay hands-on and involved in technical problem-solving
• Influence tooling, process improvements, and shop performance
• Mentor the next generation of machinists
• Run a shop where quality and craftsmanship still matter
• Work for a stable, growing company that values machining expertise
• Make decisions that directly impact production, customers, and profitability

What You'll Own

Shop Leadership

• Lead daily operations across CNC mills, turning centers, and manual machining equipment
• Set the tone for safety, quality, accountability, and teamwork
• Keep work flowing while supporting the team on the floor
• Provide guidance when difficult jobs, setups, or troubleshooting situations arise

Manufacturing Excellence

• Improve setup efficiency and machining processes
• Optimize tooling strategies, feeds, speeds, and cycle timesReduce downtime, scrap, and production bottlenecks
• Help create smarter, more efficient ways to get quality parts out the door

Team Development

• Mentor and train machinists ranging from apprentices to experienced operators
• Share knowledge and develop technical talent within the shop
• Build a culture where people take pride in their work
• Lead by example and earn respect through action

Operational Performance

• Manage scheduling, workflow, and priorities
• Drive on-time delivery and first-pass quality
• Coordinate resources to keep production moving
• Ensure customers receive quality parts when promised

What We're Looking For

Strong Machining Background

• 7+ years of machining experience, including leadership responsibilities
• Extensive CNC machining experience with vertical machining centers and turning centers
• Horizontal machining center experience preferred
• Expert understanding of tooling, setups, troubleshooting, and tight-tolerance machining
• Proven success solving complex manufacturing challenges

Technical Skills

• Strong blueprint reading and GD&T knowledge
• Working knowledge of G-code, tooling selection, feeds and speeds
• Experience with FANUC controls
• CAM programming experience, preferably Mastercam

Leadership Style

• Respected because you've done the work yourself
• Comfortable coaching, mentoring, and developing others
• Leads from the floor, not from behind a desk
• Takes ownership and accountability for results
• Makes sound decisions under pressure

What Success Looks Like

• Jobs ship on time with minimal rework
• Setup times improve and productivity increases
• Quality remains a source of pride throughout the shop
• Employees are engaged, developing, and contributing
• Customers trust the work because it's done right the first time
• The shop runs safely, efficiently, and profitably

The Ideal Candidate

You're the machinist everyone goes to when a job is critical, a setup is challenging, or a problem needs solving. You've earned your reputation through technical expertise, hard work, and leadership on the shop floor.

You're not looking to become a corporate manager.

You're looking for the opportunity to lead a talented team, improve a shop you've taken ownership of, and leave your mark on an operation that values craftsmanship as much as results.

If you're a machinist who became a leader, not a manager who became a machinist, we'd love to talk with you.