Manual Toolroom Machinist and Toolmaker

6 Degrees Search; Barkhamsted (CT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

6 Degrees Search seeks an experienced Manual Toolroom Machinist to support manufacturing operations in Barkhamsted, CT. You will produce, repair, and modify fixtures, tooling, and gages, taking projects from drawings through machining, assembly, and final inspection.

The role requires hands-on expertise with jig borers, lathes, milling machines, and grinders, plus proficiency in GD&T and metrology. You will collaborate with engineering, production, and quality teams to improve efficiency and

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.

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.

Skills

Manual machining

Blueprint reading

GD&T

Metrology/inspection

Tooling development

Education

Toolmaker apprenticeship

Tools

Manual jig borers

Grinders

Lathes

Milling machines

Surface grinders

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Manual Toolroom Machinist and Toolmaker to support manufacturing operations. This hands-on role is responsible for producing, repairing, and modifying manufacturing fixtures, workholding devices, specially designed tooling, and precision gages. The ideal candidate brings a strong background operating manual machines and can independently take a project from a drawing or concept through machining, assembly, and final inspection.

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.