Manufacturing Engineer - CNC

Approach Venture; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10+ vacation days annually

401(k) with employer matching up to 4%

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

Approach Venture, based in Hawthorne, CA, seeks a CNC Manufacturing Engineer to own machining operations from CAM through inspection in a hands‑on startup setting.

You will work directly with engineers to fabricate molds and tooling, advancing from CAD to finished hardware while growing into broader manufacturing roles and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field or hands‑on equivalent.
• 1+ years in CNC machining or closely related hands‑on engineering experience.
• Experience with CNC milling and/or turning.
• Familiarity with CAM programming and CNC setup.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and GD&T.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands‑on manufacturing interest.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture precision molds, tooling, prototype parts, and production hardware.
• Own CNC machining operations from CAM programming through setup, machining, and inspection.
• Program and operate CNC mills and lathes.
• Work from CAD models, drawings, and GD&T requirements.
• Partner with design engineers to improve part producibility and tooling.

Skills

CNC milling

CNC turning

CAM programming

reading drawings

GD&T interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Fusion 360

Mastercam

Onshape

Job description

CNC Manufacturing Engineer - Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing

Hawthorne, California | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join an early-stage aerospace and defense manufacturing company developing a new approach to producing high-performance composite components. The technology enables complex, lightweight hardware to be manufactured faster and at greater scale, with applications across aerospace, defense, and other demanding industries. As a CNC Manufacturing Engineer, you will work directly with engineering and production to manufacture precision molds, tooling, prototypes, and components. You will own machining work from CAM programming and setup through finished hardware while gaining exposure to broader manufacturing engineering responsibilities. This is a strong opportunity for an early-career engineer who enjoys working with both CAD and physical hardware and wants to grow quickly in a hands-on startup environment.

About Us

We are a venture-backed advanced manufacturing startup developing new methods for producing lightweight composite hardware. Our team works across engineering, machining, tooling, composites, and production to move complex parts from design into physical hardware quickly. Engineers work directly with the manufacturing process and have opportunities to take on increasing technical and operational responsibility as the company grows.

Job Duties

• Manufacture precision molds, tooling, prototype parts, and production hardware
• Own CNC machining operations from CAM programming through setup, machining, and inspection
• Program and operate CNC mills and lathes
• Work directly from CAD models, engineering drawings, and GD&T requirements
• Partner with design engineers to provide manufacturing feedback and improve part producibility
• Select cutting tools, workholding, machining strategies, feeds, and speeds for composite and metallic components
• Design and improve fixtures and workholding solutions for prototype and production hardware
• Develop and refine CAM programs, templates, and machining processes
• Support tooling repair and modification as engineering designs evolve
• Help manage shop tooling, raw materials, and machining capacity
• Support material purchasing and tooling acquisition as production requirements grow
• Maintain and calibrate machining and supporting shop equipment
• Troubleshoot machining issues and continuously improve quality, cycle time, and repeatability
• Communicate schedules, technical issues, and project status clearly with the broader engineering team
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe manufacturing environment

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent hands‑on technical experience
• 1+ years of CNC machining, manufacturing, or closely related hands‑on engineering experience
• Experience with CNC milling and/or turning
• Familiarity with CAM programming and CNC machine setup
• Experience with CAD/CAM platforms such as Fusion, Mastercam, Onshape, or equivalent tools
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and GD&T
• Strong mechanical aptitude and interest in hands‑on manufacturing
• Ability to troubleshoot problems and make practical decisions on the shop floor
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• U.S. Person status required due to export control regulations

Preferred Experience

• 1 to 4 years of CNC machining or manufacturing engineering experience
• Experience machining molds, tooling, prototypes, or other complex geometry
• 3D surfacing and multi‑operation machining experience
• Experience machining both metals and composite‑related tooling
• CNC lathe and vertical machining center experience
• Experience developing fixtures and workholding solutions
• Familiarity with tooling selection, feeds and speeds, and machining process optimization
• Experience working in an aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or other high‑performance hardware environment
• Exposure to composite manufacturing or tooling
• Interest in growing into manufacturing planning, capacity planning, or technical leadership

Why Join Us

• Hands‑on ownership of CNC machining and manufacturing processes
• Opportunity to work directly with engineers developing new aerospace and defense hardware
• Clear growth opportunities into manufacturing planning, capacity planning, and team leadership
• 10+ vacation days annually
• 5 paid sick days annually
• Paid holidays and additional company days off
• 401(k) with employer matching up to 4%
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions
• Company‑paid life, short‑term disability, and long‑term disability insurance
• Opportunity to grow alongside an early‑stage advanced manufacturing company

Compensation Details

$85,000 - $125,000