Manual Machinist – Mills & Lathes

Qualdoc; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Qualdoc is seeking an experienced Manual Machinist to set up and operate mills and lathes in Richmond, VA. This contract‑to‑hire role requires reading blueprints, GD&T specs, and selecting tooling while ensuring precision and quality.

The ideal candidate will independently adjust machine settings, troubleshoot issues, and maintain documentation of work and measurements. Safety, reliability, and attention to detail are essential in a hands‑on shop environment.

Qualifications

• CNC certification required.
• Strong manufacturing and machining background.
• Ability to read blueprints, engineering drawings, and GD&T specifications.
• Basic math skills, including geometry and trigonometry.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Review blueprints, work orders, engineering drawings, and GD&T specifications to determine machining requirements.
• Set up mills and lathes, including installing chucks, collets, tools, attachments, and other fixtures.
• Enter or adjust machine program instructions, offsets, tool registers, and reference points as needed.
• Perform machining operations such as drilling, grooving, turning, facing, knurling, and thread chasing.
• Use measuring instruments to verify dimensions, tolerances, machine settings, and finished parts.
• Identify machining problems, troubleshoot equipment, adjust controls, and sharpen or replace worn tooling.
• Follow quality assurance procedures and applicable safety standards.
• Perform preventive maintenance and report equipment malfunctions requiring repair.
• Document completed work, communicate issues between shifts, and maintain technical knowledge.

Skills

Blueprint reading

GD&T knowledge

Troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Education

CNC certification

Tools

Manual mills

Manual lathes

Measuring instruments

Job description

Manual Machinist - Mills & Lathes

Location: Richmond, VA
Job Type: Contract to Hire
Shifts: 1st and 2nd Shift
Starting Pay: $28.00/hour; higher pay may be available depending on experience

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Manual Machinist to set up and operate mills and lathes to produce precision parts. This is a hands‑on machining role, not a machine operator position. The ideal candidate can independently select tooling, interpret technical drawings, adjust machine settings, troubleshoot issues, and maintain quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Review blueprints, work orders, engineering drawings, and GD&T specifications to determine machining requirements.

• Set up mills and lathes, including installing chucks, collets, tools, attachments, and other fixtures.

• Enter or adjust machine program instructions, offsets, tool registers, and reference points as needed.

• Perform machining operations such as drilling, grooving, turning, facing, knurling, and thread chasing.

• Use measuring instruments to verify dimensions, tolerances, machine settings, and finished parts.

• Identify machining problems, troubleshoot equipment, adjust controls, and sharpen or replace worn tooling.

• Follow quality assurance procedures and applicable safety standards.

• Perform preventive maintenance and report equipment malfunctions requiring repair.

• Document completed work, communicate issues between shifts, and maintain technical knowledge.

Qualifications

• CNC certification required.

• Strong manufacturing and machining background.

• CNC programming experience is a plus.

• Ability to read blueprints, engineering drawings, and GD&T specifications.

• Knowledge of manual mills, lathes, tooling, controls, and instrumentation.

• Basic math skills, including geometry and trigonometry.

• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and identify opportunities for process improvement.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Primarily indoors in a manufacturing facility; the building is heated in winter but not air-conditioned in summer.

• Must be able to stand on concrete floors for at least eight hours and perform tasks involving bending, kneeling, and squatting.

• Work areas may be noisy due to grinding or machine testing; earplugs are provided when needed.

Required Tools & Safety Gear

• Must provide basic personal tools, including box/open‑end/socket wrench sets, Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, tap handles, pliers, a combination square, a 9‑inch level, and a tape measure. Both metric and English tool sets are recommended.

• A lockable toolbox is recommended.

• Safety glasses and steel‑toed shoes are required.

• Long pants and a shirt with sleeves (at least short sleeves) are required.