R&D Machinist

Seakeeper; Leesport (Berks County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Seakeeper seeks an experienced R&D Machinist to machine parts for prototype units and support product development. You will program, set up and operate CNC machines, collaborating with engineers across mechanical, electrical and software disciplines to deliver Seakeeper’s next great gyro products.

You will plan machining from blueprints, interpret GD&T, and verify first-run parts while maintaining safety and quality.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of CNC setup, programming and running in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with 5-axis milling and multiple CNC controls (lathe/mill).
• Reading and notation of machine drawings with GD&T knowledge.
• Strong math, geometry and trigonometry skills.
• Ability to read blueprints and maintain quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Produce machined parts by programming, setting up and operating CNC machines.
• Collaborate with product engineers across mechanical, electrical and software domains.
• Advise on alternative solutions to achieve product goals.
• Plan machining by studying drawings, materials and GD&T parameters.
• Program mills and lathes, set tool offsets and verify parts.
• Measure first-run parts and adjust as needed to maintain specs.
• Maintain equipment and follow safety procedures.
• Follow SOPs and perform preventative maintenance.

Skills

CNC programming

CNC setup

Precision measurement

GD&T

Blueprint reading

Team player

Safety awareness

Troubleshooting

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Technical CNC training

Tools

CNC controls

5-axis milling

Turning & milling

Job description

We make an extraordinary product. Some might say it defies gravity! As our R&D Machinist, you’ll work closely with the product development engineers to machine parts for prototype units and develop the next great Seakeeper product. You’ll have an immediate impact to our product development efforts by:

• Producing machined parts by programming, setting up and operating a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine while maintaining quality and safety standards, keeping records and maintaining equipment and supplies
• Collaborating within a team of product engineers with mechanical, electrical and software specialties to continue innovating Seakeeper’s core technologies to deliver new products with challenging expectations in a timely manner
• Advising on possible alternative solutions to achieve product goals
• Planning machining by studying blueprints, engineering plans, materials, specifications, orthographic drawings, reference planes, locations of surfaces and machining parameters, interpreting geometric dimensions and tolerances (GD&T) including using qualified measuring equipment required to maintain correct dimensions
• Programming mills and lathes by entering instructions, setting tool registers, offsets, compensation and conditional switches, calculating requirements and proving part programs
• Verifying settings by measuring positions, first-run parts and sample workpieces while adhering to international standards
• Maintaining specifications by observing drilling, grooving and cutting including turning, facing, knurling and thread chasing operations
• Taking measurements, detecting malfunctions, troubleshooting processes, adjusting and reprogramming controls, sharpening and replacing worn tools and adhering to quality assurance procedures and processes
• Following standard operating procedures and staying within job safety parameters
• Maintaining equipment by completing preventative maintenance requirements, following manufacturer’s instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions and calling for repairs

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Do you have a positive attitude, an eagerness to learn and the ability to hustle in a fast-paced environment? Then Seakeeper is the place for you! Here are a few other things you’ll need to succeed.

MUST-HAVES

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 7+ years of experience setting up, programming and running CNC machine with 5-axis milling control and multiple turn lathe and mill CNC controls in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with controls, instrumentation and tooling
• Skilled in basic math, geometry and trigonometry
• Proficient at both reading and notating machine drawings provided by mechanical engineering staff
• Ferocious attention to detail and exceptionally organized with minimal errors
• Possess quality focus, sound judgment and decision-making skills
• Flexible and agile with the ability to pivot quickly to changing circumstances and business demands
• Team player and highly motivated to make a difference
• Change maker with a bias for positive action
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment at all times
• Possess quality focus, sound judgment and decision making
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently

NICE-TO-HAVES

• Technical school training in CNC machine programming
• Willingness to work overtime as needed
• Manual grinding experience

MORE DETAILS YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW

• You’ll be based in our Leesport, PA facility full-time
• You will work Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• On-the-job training will be provided (we will help you become the Seakeeper expert!)
• You’ll report to the EST Manager, also based in Leesport
• This is a manual labor position, working in a manufacturing environment

YOUR TEAM

Our EST (engineering support team) group is nestled within our Gyro Product Engineering department. It is a small, but mighty team that covers a lot of ground supporting all existing and future gyro products. It is a flat team, managing projects through an Agile workflow that allows maximum exposure to a variety of projects and systems within the group. The team is comprised of engineers with varying backgrounds and specialties including hydraulic, electrical, mechanical, systems, controls and more with a heavy emphasis on collaboration.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE

It’s true that we make extraordinary products, but our favorite part about Seakeeper is our people! We love the culture we have built and are aggressively protective of our team atmosphere. This is why we value your cultural fit as equally as we value your technical contributions. With a palpable passion for what we do, we work hard, move fast and are constantly pushing (or should we say crushing) boundaries. That means there is no room for jerks!

We operate with the nimbleness and growth mindset of a scrappy startup. Throughout the organization, we take ownership and accountability for our ultimate team success by openly and actively seeking out constructive feedback on how we can improve. We believe great ideas can strike at any moment, and when you have one, you’re empowered to speak up!

Fast-paced and hands-on don’t even begin to describe what you’ll experience here. That means you have the freedom to make a difference and contribute to the larger goal, regardless of your position. The only constant at Seakeeper is change, and we thrive on it!

WHO WE ARE

71% of our Earth is covered by water and we want everyone to make the most of it. That’s why we are on a mission to create products that transform the boating experience with an organization that employees want to work for, customers want to buy from, and vendors want to partner with.

Founded in 2008, we have grown from a start-up operation to the worldwide leader in marine motion control. The journey began with our gyro stabilization technology, which eliminates up to 90% of boat roll and creates a land-like experience on the water. This technology went from an unknown commodity to a must-have boating requirement in the first decade. In 2022, we added another jaw-dropping technology to our portfolio with the launch of Seakeeper Ride, a first-of-its-kind Vessel Attitude Control System which eliminates underway pitch and roll, making time on the water safer and more comfortable for everyone onboard. In summary, we are in the business of creating gravity-defying products that completely change the way people spend their time on the water…and we are just getting started!

We have long runways with both of our technologies with new addressable markets on the horizon and drive to push the boundaries of what our technologies can do. With dedicated focus to each segment, in addition to shared leadership of each vertical, we can balance the different demands of each segment while providing a consist overall vision and direction of the company.

Seakeeper is personally committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. All employment is decided on the basis of job requirements, individual qualifications, and business need.