Sr Machinist

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision plans

MIT-funded pension

Matching 401K

Paid leave

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking a talented Senior Machinist to contribute to high-precision prototype development in an R&D setting. The role emphasizes CNC programming, setup, and operation, with a strong collaboration across engineers and fellow machinists.

You will own fabrication strategies, design basic fixtures, and mentor junior staff while expanding expertise into milling and turning; opportunities exist to explore additive methods and advanced machining techniques.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of direct subtractive manufacturing experience.
• CNC milling/turning experience with ability to expand into both milling and turning.
• Strong ownership of work quality and adherence to tolerances.
• Experience with manual machining equipment.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings and apply GD&T.
• Ability to design basic fixtures.
• Proficiency with CAM and 3D CAD software; MS Office.

Responsibilities

• CNC programming, setup, operation, teardown, and maintenance.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized workspace.
• Collaborate with engineers and machinists to meet fabrication requirements.
• Mentor less experienced machinists and improve shop processes.
• Develop fabrication strategies and communicate tooling needs.
• Expand expertise to milling and turning, including additive options.

Skills

Subtractive machining

CNC programming

GD&T reading

Fixture design

Inspection tools

Team collaboration

Education

Two-year technical program

Tools

SolidWorks CAD

hyperMILL CAM

DMG Mori NLX lathe

Heidenhain iTNC 530

CAM software

3D CAD software

MS Office

Job description

Sr Machinist

Date: Oct 5, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

The Fabrication Engineering Group provides rapid fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing of advanced hardware prototypes for national security applications. Examples include the precision machining fiber mounts for airborne high-energy laser systems, multi-functional structures using additive processes for ground-based radar systems, custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) for space-borne data processing, and highly integrated mechanical packaging for undersea communication terminals. Core mechanical competencies span precision fabrication, additive manufacturing, and 5-axis machining. The group concentrates on high-complexity parts, quick-turn capabilities, and activities that require concurrent engineering with program teams. Core PCB capabilities include design for manufacturability (DFM), automated solder paste dispensers, precise pick-n-place machines, and automated optical inspection systems. Assembly, integration, and test capabilities include integration spaces, clean rooms, vibration testing, thermal testing, and space simulation chambers. The Group focuses on state-of-the-art prototyping capabilities, technical excellence, exceptional collaboration, and outstanding operation.

Job Description

The ideal candidate is a talented, creative, and motivated machinist with a strong aptitude for problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and excellent interpersonal, verbal/written communication, and time management skills. This individual demonstrates enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to continuously learn and expand their skillsets.

The candidate will be responsible for CNC programming, setup, operation, teardown, cleanup, and maintenance of equipment while maintaining a clean, safe, and organized workspace. This role supports an R&D environment focused on high-precision, low-volume prototype development of technology with national importance. The position may occasionally require extended hours (overtime) to meet critical program milestones.

Beyond technical machining expertise, this role requires strong collaboration with engineers and fellow machinists to meet fabrication requirements, ownership of work quality and shop standards, and leadership in mentoring less experienced machinists and contributing to shop efficiency improvements. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about machining and be motivated by contributing to the Laboratory's mission critical work.

Candidates with expertise in either CNC milling or CNC turning are strongly encouraged to apply. Machinists at the Senior-level are expected to independently develop fabrication strategies, identify and communicate tooling requirements, design and build custom fixtures, and collaborate with engineers and other machinists on complex or challenging hardware as needed. The flexibility required for prototype development will likely require the candidate to eventually expand their expertise into both milling and turning operations.

Opportunities exist to learn and apply additional manufacturing technologies including additive manufacturing (metal and polymer), electrical discharge machining (EDM), diamond turning, and other advanced fabrication methods.

Required Skills

• 10+ years of direct experience in subtractive manufacturing with hands‑on experience in milling, turning, or a combination of both
• Demonstrated expertise with CNC programming and operation experience with CNC milling and/or turning with the ability and willingness to expand into both CNC milling and CNC turning
• Demonstrated ownership of work quality, adherence to tolerances and specifications, and maintaining equipment and workspace to shop standards
• Experience with manual machining equipment
• Strong ability to read mechanical drawings and apply GD&T
• Ability to design and fabricate basic fixtures
• Experience with the following software types:
  • CAM software
  • 3D CAD software
  • MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)

Required Skills (cont.)

• Proficiency using hand tools and inspection equipment (e.g., calipers, micrometers, thread/pin gages, dial indicators, pistol drills)
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment with minimal supervision
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic about supporting novel prototype development in an R&D setting
• Willingness to learn new fabrication techniques, machine tools, and technologies
• Commitment to maintaining a clean, organized, and safe work area
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

Desired Skills

• Graduation from a two-year technical school or equivalent training
• Experience in a high-mix, low-volume job shop or R&D prototype environment
• Experience in simultaneous 5-axis programming and machine operation
• Experience with CNC turning with live tooling
• Experience mentoring machinists and contributing to shop process improvement initiatives
• Experience using:
  • SolidWorks CAD
  • hyperMILL CAM
  • DMG Mori Seiki NLX lathes
  • Heidenhain iTNC 530 controllers

Desired Skills (cont.)

• Prior experience machining advanced or difficult materials such as:
  • Titanium
  • Invar
  • Hastelloy
  • 17-4 PH stainless steel
  • Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs)
  • Fiber-reinforced composites
• Familiarity with digital manufacturing tools, including:
  • Model Based Definition (MBD)
  • Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems (e.g., Aras Innovator)
  • Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
• Exposure to ultrasonic machining, additive manufacturing, EDM, or diamond turning

Hiring Range: $45.72 - $49.84 Job Grade: RDTEU-INSPECSR

Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including-but not limited to-the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT-funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• A range of work-life balance options
• ... and much more!

Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requisition ID:43046

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