Manual Toolroom Machinist and Toolmaker

RNInk; Barkhamsted (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

RNInk seeks an experienced manual machinist/toolmaker to manufacture and assemble precision fixtures, gauges, and tooling. You will set up and operate jig borers, lathes, milling machines, and grinders, interpreting drawings and GD&T to plan operations.

You will select materials, tools, speeds, feeds, and sequences to achieve required finishes, inspect parts with precision gauges, and collaborate with engineering, production, and quality teams to improve efficiency and repeatability.

Qualifications

• Must have hands-on manual machinist or toolmaker experience.
• Ability to read technical drawings and GD&T.
• Experience with precision tooling and close tolerances.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture and assemble precision fixtures, workholding devices, tooling, and gauges.
• Set up and operate manual jig borers, lathes, milling machines, surface grinders, and other toolroom equipment.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specs, and GD&T to plan machining operations.
• Select materials, tooling, speeds, feeds, and sequences to meet dimensions and finishes.
• Inspect finished components with micrometers, calipers, indicators, bore gauges, and other measuring tools.
• Troubleshoot and modify tooling, fixtures, and gauges to address wear and changes.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and quality to improve efficiency and repeatability.
• Maintain toolroom equipment, keep areas organized, and follow safety/quality procedures.
• Perform other machining and toolmaking tasks in support of manufacturing.

Skills

Manual machining

Mechanical aptitude

Reading drawings

Tools

Jig borers

Grinders

Lathes

Milling machines

Measuring tools

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Manufacture and assemble precision fixtures, workholding devices, custom tooling, and gages to support production and inspection needs.

Set up and operate manual jig borers, lathes, milling machines, surface grinders, and other toolroom equipment.

Interpret engineering drawings, sketches, specifications, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements to plan machining operations.

Select appropriate materials, cutting tools, workholding methods, speeds, feeds, and machining sequences to achieve required dimensions and finishes.

Inspect finished components using micrometers, calipers, indicators, bore gages, and other precision measuring equipment.

Troubleshoot, repair, and modify existing tooling, fixtures, and gages to address wear, dimensional issues, and manufacturing changes.

Collaborate with engineering, production, and quality teams to solve tooling problems and improve manufacturing efficiency and repeatability.

Maintain toolroom equipment, keep work areas organized, and follow established safety and quality procedures.

Perform other machining and toolmaking tasks in support of manufacturing.

Required Qualifications

Proven hands-on experience as a manual machinist, toolroom machinist, or toolmaker in a manufacturing environment.

Strong proficiency with manual jig borers, grinders, lathes, and milling machines, including independent setup and operation.

Experience producing precision tooling, fixtures, workholding devices, and gages to close tolerances.

Ability to read technical drawings and use precision inspection tools accurately.

Working knowledge of shop mathematics, machining practices, material properties, and tooling selection.

Strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize work and communicate with manufacturing teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Completion of a toolmaker apprenticeship or technical training in machining or toolmaking. Experience developing tooling from sketches or concepts and supporting prototype or one-off manufacturing projects is a plus.