Benefits:

401(k)
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off

PHD Machining LLC is seeking an experienced CNC Lathe Setup Machinist to join our growing precision machining team.

We specialize in high-precision CNC manufacturing for the aerospace, defense, space, and other advanced manufacturing industries. We are looking for someone who is hands-on, dependable, quality-focused, and experienced in setting up complex CNC lathe jobs.

Responsibilities

Set up and operate CNC lathes for prototype and production work
Perform complete machine setups using existing CNC programs
Install and properly set tools, inserts, jaws, fixtures, and workholding
Set tool offsets, work offsets, and part zero
Read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications
Select and adjust appropriate tooling, inserts, speeds, and feeds as needed
Prove out setups and make necessary offsets or minor program adjustments
Perform first-piece and in-process inspections using micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, height gauges, and other inspection equipment
Maintain tight tolerances and high-quality surface finishes
Troubleshoot tooling, workholding, chatter, dimensional, and machining issues
Work closely with programmers and quality personnel to successfully bring jobs into production
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area

Qualifications

2+ years of CNC lathe setup and machining experience preferred
Strong CNC lathe setup and troubleshooting skills
Ability to independently set up a CNC lathe from an existing program and setup information
Experience setting tools, offsets, jaws, and workholding
Ability to read and understand CNC programs and make minor edits or adjustments
Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, and precision inspection
Experience with live tooling, Y-axis, and/or sub-spindle lathes is a plus
CNC programming experience is a plus, but not required
CAM software experience is a plus, but not required
Experience machining aluminum, stainless steel, alloy steel, titanium, Inconel, and other aerospace materials is a plus
Experience with tight-tolerance aerospace or defense components is highly preferred
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
Reliable, responsible, and able to work independently

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a strong setup machinist, not necessarily a programmer.

The ideal candidate should be able to take an existing CNC program and independently prepare the machine for production—including workholding, jaws, tooling, offsets, setup, prove-out, and first-piece inspection.

You should be comfortable troubleshooting setup and machining issues and making minor adjustments when necessary to produce conforming parts.

Programming knowledge is an advantage, but it is not required for this position.

What We Offer

Competitive compensation based on experience and capability
Full-time position
Overtime opportunities based on workload
Opportunity to work on challenging aerospace, defense, and space hardware
Modern CNC equipment and a growing manufacturing environment
Opportunities for advancement as PHD Machining continues to expand

Job Type: Full-time
Location: Santa Clara, California
Compensation: Competitive and based on experience

If you are an experienced CNC lathe setup machinist who takes pride in producing high-quality precision parts, we would like to hear from you.

Please apply with your resume and include a brief description of the CNC lathes and controls you have experience setting up.

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