Aerospace CNC Lead Machinist – Precision Latching Systems

Lead the craft. Shape aerospace precision.

Location: Placentia, California | Shift: 1st shift

Step into a typical morning as our CNC Machinist A Lead: you arrive to a clean, well-organized aerospace shop, review the hot list with production, and assign work across machines so the team hits safety, quality, and delivery goals. You roll up your sleeves to set up a CNC mill, prove out a new program alongside a programmer, and mentor a machinist through a tricky blueprint feature. By mid-day, you’re coordinating with quality to verify key dimensions using SPC, then shifting resources to keep parts flowing between cells and across shifts. You finish by planning tomorrow’s priorities and a small continuous-improvement trial to reduce setup time.

About the company

Our client is a long-standing designer and manufacturer of aircraft latches and latching systems. With more than 80 years of aerospace heritage, they supply high-performance components used in commercial, military, and space programs. Their reputation for reliability and innovation creates genuine pathways for growth and long-term careers.

What you’ll do

• Direct daily assignments for machinists and machine operators to align with production priorities.
• Set up and run CNC and manual equipment to manufacture precision parts to blueprint and spec.
• Partner with programming to set up, prove out, and optimize both new and existing components.
• Perform routine maintenance and oversee in-process quality checks to ensure conformance.
• Balance workloads across shifts to maintain steady flow and meet delivery targets.

What you bring

• 5–8 years of hands-on machine shop experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven lead-level experience guiding machinists or operators.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and follow detailed technical instructions.
• Working knowledge of SPC and modern CNC machining practices.
• Clear, collaborative communication with production, tooling, and quality teams.

Why this role

Join a collaborative culture with room to advance throughout the organization. You’ll benefit from the stability that comes with decades in aerospace, along with competitive compensation, benefits, and paid vacation.

Next steps

If you enjoy blending technical machining with team leadership, this CNC Machinist A Lead role offers an excellent platform to elevate your impact. All successful applicants will be contacted within two working days.