Manual Toolroom Machinist and Toolmaker

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

Job summary

Calqulate is seeking an experienced Manual Toolroom Machinist to support our manufacturing operations in Connecticut. This hands-on role will produce, repair, and modify fixtures, tooling, and precision gauges from drawings, ensuring close tolerances and repeatable results.

You will set up and operate manual jig borers, lathes, milling machines, and grinders, interpret drawings, select tooling and materials, and inspect completed parts with precision measuring tools.

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 gauges 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 gauges 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

Hands-on machining

Reading drawings

Precision measurement

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Toolmaker apprenticeship

Technical machining training

Tools

Manual jig borers

Lathes

Milling machines

Surface grinders

Micrometers

Calipers

Bore gauges

Inspection gauges

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.