Senior Aerospace CNC Shop Lead

Firefly Aerospace; Briggs (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision plans

Relocation benefits

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a seasoned Lead Machinist to drive daily CNC shop operations in a fast-paced aerospace environment. You will mentor machinists, optimize setups, and ensure on-time delivery while enforcing quality and safety standards.

With 8+ years in CNC shops and deep GD&T knowledge, you will manage multiple cells, troubleshoot issues, and push continuous improvements. This on-site Texas role offers a path to impact production scale and spaceflight readiness.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in a CNC machine shop environment.
• Experience leading machinists or manufacturing teams is preferred.
• Advanced understanding of CNC milling, turning, and multi-axis operations.
• Ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot CNC programs and G-code.
• Knowledge of GD&T and precision inspection requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support daily machine shop operations in a fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment.
• Coordinate daily production activities to ensure alignment with the established production schedule and manufacturing priorities.
• Provide direct floor-level leadership, technical guidance, and support to machinists across multiple manufacturing cells.
• Monitor production progress, machine utilization, and operational efficiency to ensure jobs remain on schedule.
• Identify and communicate production constraints, equipment issues, material shortages, and other obstacles affecting delivery.
• Ensure machinists follow approved manufacturing processes, work instructions, setup documentation, controlled programs.
• Verify operators are properly prepared before beginning machining operations, including tooling, fixtures, programs, and work order requirements.
• Assist with troubleshooting machining processes, setups, tooling issues, and equipment-related problems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with emphasis on setup reduction, cycle time optimization, quality, and productivity.
• Promote operator accountability for workmanship, equipment care, documentation accuracy, and adherence to established processes.
• Actively participate in RCCA investigations involving nonconformances, machining errors, and process failures. Assist in identifying root causes, developing corrective actions, and verifying their effectiveness to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure accurate completion of manufacturing work orders, operation tracking, and production documentation.
• Maintain effective communication between shifts through detailed production pass-downs, including completed operations, work order status, and outstanding issues.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment while ensuring compliance with all EHS requirements.
• Communicate daily production performance, operational concerns, and improvement opportunities to machine shop management.

Skills

CNC Machining Leadership

Problem-solving

Quality & safety focus

Communication & team leadership

Tools

Mazak control systems

Okuma control systems

Fanuc control systems

G-code reading

Job description

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a seasoned Lead Machinist to drive daily CNC shop operations in a fast-paced aerospace environment. You will mentor machinists, optimize setups, and ensure on-time delivery while enforcing quality and safety standards.

With 8+ years in CNC shops and deep GD&T knowledge, you will manage multiple cells, troubleshoot issues, and push continuous improvements. This on-site Texas role offers a path to impact production scale and spaceflight readiness.