CNC Turning Center Setup Machinist at Belden Universal

Step into a typical day in our advanced manufacturing shop. You arrive at Belden Universal’s newly constructed, air‑conditioned facility just 12 miles west of downtown Chicago. After a quick huddle with seasoned machinists, you review the day’s work orders for universal joints and drive shafts, translate blueprints and GD&T into a machining plan, and bring a CNC turning center online for first‑article proof. As production ramps, you monitor quality, fine‑tune offsets, and keep operations safe and smooth—all while learning new techniques from experts who are invested in your success.

What you’ll do

• Translate work orders, prints, materials, and specs into a machining strategy; interpret geometric dimensioning & tolerancing to determine critical surfaces and parameters.
• Program multi‑spindle CNC lathes: set zero/reference points, tool registers, offsets, compensation, and conditional logic; calculate requirements using basic math, geometry, and trigonometry; prove out part programs.
• Set up lathes by installing and adjusting cutting tools and workholding for turning operations.
• Load the feed mechanism by positioning raw stock safely and efficiently.
• Verify setups by measuring machine positions, first‑run parts, and samples to international standards.
• Hold tolerances through drilling, grooving, turning, facing, knurling, and thread‑chasing; take measurements, detect malfunctions, troubleshoot processes, adjust/reprogram controls, and sharpen/replace worn tooling while following quality procedures.
• Operate safely and maintain compliance with all shop safety rules.
• Perform preventive maintenance per manufacturer instructions and resolve machine issues.
• Document production activity and quality results in the appropriate logs.

Where you’ll work & grow

Join us in a clean, organized, air‑conditioned production environment built for precision and learning. Belden Universal is growing rapidly, creating significant advancement opportunities for motivated machinists who want to expand their skills in CNC turning.

Schedules

• Swing shift: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (45 hours/week)
• First shift: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM (40 hours/week)

Compensation & benefits

• Competitive pay commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package
• 401‑K match
• 10 paid company holidays per year
• 4 paid personal days per year

What you bring

• At least 5 years of experience on CNC turning centers (Swiss turning preferred)
• G‑code programming proficiency
• Strong conceptual thinking and a drive for process improvement
• Clear verbal communication
• Solid functional and technical skills
• Comfort with machine controls and instrumentation
• Tooling knowledge and strong coordination/manual dexterity

If you’re eager to learn, ready to contribute on day one, and excited to help manufacture precision universal joints and drive shafts, we’d love to meet you.