Tool Room Machinist – Manual & CNC Setup

Confidential Employer – Precision Machining (Defense & Aerospace Manufacturing); Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

Life/AD&D insurance

Short/long-term disability

401(k) plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid time off and holidays

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Confidential is seeking an experienced tool room machinist in Auburn Hills, MI to handle prototypes, small batches, and reworks with little guidance. You will run and set up manual machines and provide on-floor technical support for complex, non-routine parts, including aerospace-grade materials and alloys.

With a strong background in machining and GD&T, you will contribute to quality and continuous improvement efforts in a defense/aerospace manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 10+ years of hands-on machining experience.
• Proficiency with manual machining equipment.
• Ability to read blueprints and GD&T.
• Experience with precision measurement tools.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Experience evaluating and selecting milling and lathe tooling.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate manual machines.
• Support CNC machining with setup and minor edits.
• Act as technical resource for complex machining.
• Read and interpret drawings and GD&T.
• Machine parts to tight tolerances and standards.
• Perform in-process inspection with calipers and micrometers.
• Mentor junior machinists.
• Support continuous improvement and 6S.

Skills

Manual machining

Blueprints & GD&T

Troubleshooting

Inspection & metrology

Education

High school diploma

Tools

CNC machining

Inspection tools

Fixture design

Job description

At a glance
Company: Confidential
Location: Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Pay: $29–$43/hour
Job Type: Full-Time
Shift: 9/80 schedule (every other Friday off), typically 7:00 AM–5:00 PM
Experience: 10+ years
Machines: Bridgeport mills, precision lathes, surface grinders, EDM

Why this job is worth considering

This shop needs an experienced tool room machinist who can take a part, work out the setup, and run it independently — there are no process sheets to lean on here. You'd be the technical backstop on the floor for complex, non-routine work: prototypes, small-batch orders, reworks, and repairs across materials from aluminum to Inconel and Hastelloy. The equipment is well-maintained and serviced annually, and CNC capability is being added to the shop, so there's room to grow into programming and offsets as that expansion lands.

What you'll be doing

• Set up and operate manual machines — Bridgeport mills, precision lathes, surface grinders, drill presses, saws, EDM, and other tool room equipment
• Support CNC machining through setup, prove-outs, offsets, and minor program edits as needed
• Serve as the shop's go-to technical resource for complex or non-routine machining challenges
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and work instructions
• Machine parts to tight tolerances and quality standards
• Perform in-process inspection with calipers, micrometers, indicators, and gauges
• Troubleshoot tooling, fixturing, and process issues
• Mentor junior machinists on safe, effective machining practices
• Support continuous improvement and 6S efforts

Machines, controls and software

Manual equipment: Bridgeport mills (including rotary-table/5-axis-calculation work), precision lathes, surface grinders, drill presses, saws, and EDM. CNC exposure supports the role — setup, prove-outs, offsets, minor program edits — rather than being the primary daily work.

What we're looking for

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 10+ years of hands-on machining experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong proficiency with manual machining equipment (Bridgeport mills, lathes, grinders)
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and GD&T
• Experience with precision measurement tools and inspection layouts
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills
• Experience evaluating and selecting milling and lathe tooling

Preferred

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or precision manufacturing
• Working knowledge of CNC machining (setup, offsets, basic troubleshooting)
• Experience with fixture design or process improvement
• Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO quality systems
• Experience cutting super alloys

Pay, benefits and schedule

$29–$43/hour. 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off; typical hours 7:00 AM–5:00 PM. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; life/AD&D and short/long-term disability insurance; a 401(k) savings plan; an employee stock purchase plan; paid time off and holidays; and education reimbursement.

About this employer and apply

This employer is a precision manufacturer supporting defense and aerospace programs, working prototype and small-batch parts in materials ranging from aluminum to high-temperature alloys like Inconel and Hastelloy. The shop is clean, well-maintained, and expanding its CNC capability. This organization is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.