Machinist

Ubuntu RM; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ubuntu RM in Gauteng, South Africa is seeking a skilled fitter and turner with strong turning and milling experience to join a small, hands-on workshop dedicated to precision packaging machinery.

You will work from technical drawings, set up and operate conventional lathes and milling machines, select cutters and speeds, and deliver high-quality components with minimal supervision. Reliable and precise craftsmanship is essential.

Qualifications

• Trade-tested fitter/turner or equivalent with post-trade experience.
• Minimum 4 years in jobbing, toolroom, or machine-building.
• Strong knowledge of conventional lathe and milling operations.

Responsibilities

• Operate lathe and milling machines in a workshop environment.
• Machine components accurately to drawings across varied jobs.
• Turn internal/external threads, bearing sizes and press fits.
• Milling keyways, blocking, and hole pitching on a dividing head.
• Select appropriate cutters, feeds, and speeds for each job.
• Work from technical drawings with minimal supervision.
• Contribute to a small, hands-on workshop team focused on precision packaging machinery.

Skills

Lathe machining

Milling machining

Drawing interpretation

Cutter selection & feeds & speeds

Unsupervised working

Quality-focused workmanship

Education

Trade Tested Fitter and Turner / Turner Machinist / Toolmaker (Red Seal, Section 26D, or Indlela)

Job description

What you'll be doing:

• Operating conventional lathe and milling machines (with or without digital readout) in a machine-building workshop
• Machining components accurately to drawing across a variety of jobs
• Turning internal and external threads, bearing sizes, and press fits
• Milling keyways, blocking accurately, and hole pitching on a dividing head
• Selecting appropriate cutters, feeds, and speeds for each job
• Working from technical drawings and specifications with minimal supervision
• Contributing to a small, hands-on workshop team building precision packaging machinery

What you'll bring:

• Trade Tested Fitter and Turner, Turner Machinist, or Toolmaker (Red Seal, Section 26D, or Indlela)
• Minimum 4 years post-trade experience in a jobbing, toolroom, or machine-building environment
• Strong knowledge of conventional lathe and milling operations
• Confidence machining accurately to drawing across varied components
• Solid understanding of cutter selection, feeds, and speeds
• Ability to work unsupervised, take ownership of your work, and deliver consistent quality
• Reliable and stable career track record