Machinist I

Fusion Enterprises; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 33,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Master Machine LLC, part of Fusion Enterprises, seeks an entry‑level Machinist I to safely operate CNC mills, lathes, or grinders under supervision. You will load programs, perform tool changes, and inspect basic features per setup sheets and traveler records.

You will learn G‑code, offsets, and fundamentals from senior machinists, maintain a clean cell, and progress toward Machinist II while upholding safety, quality, and traceability standards across every part.

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of manufacturing, shop, or CNC exposure (internship, tech school lab, or entry role).
• Ability to read basic blueprints and use precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, indicators).
• Willingness to complete internal machine operation certification and OSHA safety onboarding (LOTO, PPE).
• Coachable and willing to follow standard work under supervision.
• Strong math skills and mechanical aptitude.

Responsibilities

• Operate CNC machines under supervision, following setup sheets and safety procedures.
• Load programs and perform tool changes; run stable, released jobs on mills, lathes, or grinders.
• Perform basic in‑process inspections and record measurements on travelers for traceability.
• Maintain clean, organized work area and follow 5S and safety protocols.
• Provide a clean handoff at end of shift with parts, tools and paperwork ready for the next operator.

Skills

Manufacturing exposure

Reading blueprints

Measurement tools

Willingness to certify

Coachable

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Indicators

Job description

About this position

About Master Machine

• Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, Master Machine LLC is a precision machining and fabrication company specializing in high‑specification components for the nuclear, defense, and critical infrastructure sectors.
• As part of Fusion Enterprises - a private company building a best‑in‑class portfolio of businesses serving the nuclear energy industry - Master Machine delivers complex, safety‑related components manufactured to the highest quality standards under a robust nuclear Quality Assurance Program.
• Together with Fusion, we are focused on operational excellence, long‑term customer partnerships, and providing essential solutions that help power and protect our world.

About the role

• The Machinist I is an entry‑level CNC operator learning to safely run stable jobs on Master Machine's floor. This role loads programs, performs tool changes, inspects basic features per setup sheets, and builds the machining fundamentals needed to progress to Machinist II.
• This role is evaluated on two equally weighted dimensions: Competency (what you do) and Culture (how you do it).

Big 3 - Competency // What you'll do

1. Safe CNC Machine Operation

Operate assigned CNC machines under supervision, following the setup sheet, safety procedures, and standard work so parts run to spec on stable jobs.

Machine Operation & Tool Changes

• Load programs and perform tool changes per the setup sheet and standard work
• Run stable, released jobs on CNC mills, lathes, or grinders under supervision
• Monitor cuts and stop the machine if something looks, sounds, or measures wrong

Safety, LOTO & PPE

• Follow OSHA, LOTO, and Master Machine safety and PPE requirements at all times
• Inspect machines and tooling before use and flag anything unsafe before starting
• Report hazards, near‑misses, and unsafe conditions immediately to the supervisor

2. Basic Part Inspection & Documentation

Perform basic in‑process inspections with calipers, micrometers, and indicators, and record results honestly on the traveler so every part has a defensible history.

Measurement & Print Reading

• Read basic blueprints, notes, and tolerances to know what to check
• Use precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, indicators, height gauges) correctly
• Verify basic features per the setup sheet before running the next part

Traceability & Documentation

• Record measurements and production steps on the traveler accurately and completely
• Escalate out‑of‑tolerance parts or non‑conformances per quality procedure
• Keep first‑piece and in‑process records legible and traceable back to the job

3. Fundamentals, Learning & 5S

Build the machining fundamentals — G‑code awareness, offsets, workholding, and 5S — needed to grow into Machinist II, and keep the cell clean and organized.

Learning G‑code, Offsets & Fundamentals

• Learn basic G‑code, tool offsets, and workholding fundamentals from senior machinists
• Ask questions when a print, program, or setup sheet is not clear
• Complete assigned internal certifications (machine operation, OSHA onboarding, blueprint reading)
• Maintain a clean, organized work area following 5S standards
• Deburr, finish, and clean parts to required specifications before staging
• Provide a clean handoff at end of shift — machine, tools, and paperwork ready for the next operator

Big 5 - Culture // How you'll live our values

1. Champion Customer Success

“We win when our customers win.”

Every part Master Machine ships goes into nuclear, defense, or critical‑infrastructure systems. Championing customer success at Machinist I means learning the fundamentals well enough that the parts you run help the customer succeed on the first shipment.

What this looks like in this role:

• Filter every operating decision through: does this help the customer succeed?
• Ask before assuming — a bad assumption at the machine reaches the customer as a defect
• Own the parts you run start‑to‑finish — including the paperwork
• Surface anything a customer or inspector might flag early, not after the part ships

“Servant leadership, integrity, and transparency in all we do.”

Serving first at Machinist I means leading by example on safety and honesty — wearing PPE, respecting LOTO, and telling the truth about what happened on a part, even when the answer is uncomfortable.

What this looks like in this role:

• Follow safety, LOTO, and quality procedures even when the schedule is tight
• Record travelers, first‑piece checks, and sign‑offs truthfully and completely
• Serve teammates by keeping tools, fixtures, and consumables ready for the next operator
• Raise print, program, or fixture issues early — before they become defects

3. Win, Together

“We are becoming, and we are building, a great team.”

The Machinist I is the newest teammate on the cell. Winning together means learning quickly, following the standard, and helping the shift succeed as one team — not one operator.

What this looks like in this role:

• Follow standard work and setup sheets as written before proposing changes
• Coordinate with senior machinists on setups, tooling, and measurement questions
• Step in when a teammate needs help staging, deburring, or moving material
• Assume positive intent and share credit when the cell hits its goals

4. Relentlessly Pursue Excellence

Relentless excellence at Machinist I is about getting a little better every shift — cleaner setups, tighter measurements, sharper attention to what the machine is telling you.

What this looks like in this role:

• Practice measurement discipline until it is automatic — same technique every time
• Look for small improvements to your own setup, cleanliness, and speed each shift
• Pursue internal certifications and skill blocks (G‑code, offsets, GD&T) as opportunities come up
• Challenge “good enough” whenever a tighter check or cleaner method is obvious

5. Practice Blameless Accountability

“We own the outcome, fix the issue, learn and move forward.”

Accountability at Machinist I means owning your own parts and your own paperwork — and being the first to raise a hand when something is off, so the team can fix the process rather than protect a person.

What this looks like in this role:

• Report your own defects, scrap, and near‑misses openly and quickly
• Focus on what happened and how to prevent it, not who to blame
• Capture what you learned so the next operator doesn't repeat it
• Accept coaching and correction without excuses or defensiveness

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of manufacturing, shop, or CNC exposure (internship, tech school lab, or entry role)
• Ability to read basic blueprints and use precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, indicators)
• Willingness to complete internal machine operation certification and OSHA safety onboarding (LOTO, PPE)
• Coachable and willing to follow standard work under supervision
• Strong math skills and mechanical aptitude
• Clear verbal communication with supervisor and teammates on setup, measurement, and safety issues
• High school diploma, GED, or technical certification in machining or manufacturing technology