CNC Machinist Aerospace

Pay: $40–$52 per hourIndustry: Aerospace / Precision ManufacturingSchedule: 1st Shift | Full TimePosition OverviewAn aerospace manufacturer in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area is seeking highly skilled CNC Machinists with either CNC Mill OR CNC Lathe experience to join its 1st shift team.This is not a basic CNC operator position. We are looking for experienced machinists who can independently take a component from raw material and engineering drawing through setup, first cut, process adjustment, inspection, and finished conforming part.The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of machining strategy, tooling selection, feeds and speeds, workholding, GD&T, tight tolerances, and precision inspection within an aerospace or similarly demanding manufacturing environment.Key ResponsibilitiesSet up and operate CNC mills OR CNC lathes producing complex, tight-tolerance aerospace components.Take new jobs from engineering drawings and raw material through first-piece production.Independently determine tooling, inserts, workholding, feeds, speeds, and machining approach.Prove out new and existing CNC programs.Make program edits, offsets, and machine adjustments as required.Perform first-piece and in-process inspections using precision measuring equipment.Interpret complex engineering drawings, blueprints, GD&T, and customer specifications.Troubleshoot machining, tooling, dimensional, and surface-finish issues.Provide input on tooling, fixturing, workholding, and machining methods for new components.Support prototype, one-off, and low-volume aerospace production.Assist with training and technical guidance for other machinists when required.Perform routine machine care and basic preventive maintenance.Maintain high standards for quality, safety, and workmanship.Qualifications5+ years of CNC precision machining experience.Strong hands-on experience setting up and operating CNC mills OR CNC lathes.Must be capable of independently taking a part from blueprint and raw material to finished component.Previous aerospace machining experience required.Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, and tight tolerances.Thorough knowledge of cutting tools, inserts, tooling selection, feeds, speeds, and tool life.Ability to perform shop math and calculate machining requirements.Experience using micrometers, calipers, gauges, and other precision inspection equipment.Comfortable machining prototypes, one-off parts, and complex low-volume components.Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.Must be eligible to access ITAR/EAR-controlled technical information as required for the position.CNC Mill CandidatesExperience with:CNC milling machine setup and operationFanuc, Siemens, and/or Heidenhain controlsMulti-axis millingComplex workholding and fixture setupsCNC Lathe CandidatesExperience with:CNC lathe setup and operationFanuc, Siemens, and/or Okuma controlsOkuma, Mori Seiki, Doosan, or comparable CNC turning equipmentMulti-axis turning equipment is a plusPreferred ExperienceCNC programming or advanced program editingPrototype aerospace machiningComplex multi-axis machiningTight-tolerance aerospace componentsDifficult-to-machine materialsFixture, workholding, and tooling developmentFirst Article Inspection supportAerospace or defense component manufacturingWhat we are looking for:We are looking for true machinists rather than basic CNC operators or production setup operators.Whether your specialty is CNC milling or CNC turning, you should be able to look at an engineering drawing and raw material, determine how the component should be machined, select the appropriate tooling and workholding, set up the machine, make the first cut, troubleshoot and adjust the process, and ultimately produce a finished conforming component.This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced machinist who takes pride in craftsmanship and enjoys complex, precision aerospace work rather than repetitive high-volume production.