Machinist Apprentice

The Apprentice Machinist position is designed to develop the technical knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on experience required to become a skilled machinist. Under the guidance of experienced machinists and engineering personnel, this role supports prototype and custom-part manufacturing, tooling and fixture development, CNC and manual machining operations, inspection activities, and the safe organization of the machine shop. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Set Up and Operation of All Manual Equipment: Learn and perform setup and operation of manual lathes, Bridgeport or vertical mills, drill presses, grinders, and related machine-shop equipment. Produce components from engineering drawings, sketches, samples, and work instructions under appropriate supervision. Use precision measuring instruments to verify dimensions and support basic machine maintenance and troubleshooting. Set Up and Operation of CNC Machines: Assist with CNC machine setup, tooling, material loading, operation, and monitoring. Learn machine controls, work offsets, tool offsets, and basic CNC machining principles. Monitor machine performance and promptly report quality, tooling, or equipment concerns. Customer Specials and Prototypes: Support the manufacture and modification of customer specials, prototype parts, samples, and replacement components. Assist Engineering and R&D with product-development projects, feasibility evaluations, and prototype testing. Create parts or modifications that support customer orders, demonstrations, sales meetings, or trade shows. Tooling and Fixture Development: Assist in the design, fabrication, modification, and maintenance of jigs, fixtures, and manufacturing tooling. Support Engineering in developing practical machining solutions that improve manufacturability, efficiency, and quality. Help maintain cutting-tool, fixture, and raw-material inventory and keep tooling organized for future use. First Piece Inspection: Perform first-piece inspections using calipers, micrometers, gauges, and other approved inspection tools. Verify conformance to engineering drawings and specifications, document results, and communicate nonconformances. Housekeeping: Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area in accordance with company safety and housekeeping standards. Properly store tools, materials, and equipment and assist with shop organization, material movement, and waste disposal. Supervisory Responsibilities None Education/Experience Required High school diploma or GED required. Technical school, vocational training, apprenticeship coursework, or machining-related education preferred. Previous manufacturing, machining, mechanical, or shop experience is preferred but not required. Required Skills/Abilities Necessary Strong mechanical aptitude and a demonstrated willingness to learn. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, sketches, dimensions, and work instructions. Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Outlook and Word. Ability to use or learn precision measuring instruments and follow documented inspection requirements. Strong attention to detail, commitment to quality, and ability to follow safety procedures. Ability to communicate effectively, solve problems, and work both independently and as part of a team. Exposure to AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CAD/CAM software, or CNC programming is a plus. Physical Demands/Requirements The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 100 pounds. Vision abilities require 20/20 sight with or without corrective lenses. The employee must be mentally prepared for focus/concentrate for the duration of time needed to make a part. They must be physically fit to stand for the majority of an 8-hour workday. Work Environment The work environment will be typical of any machine shop. There will be occasional deliveries which will require the door neighboring the shop to open and close frequently. This will cause temporary temperature variations and a higher noise level than an office environment. Higher noise levels may also occur as the machines themselves generate sound during use. #ZR