High‑Mix CNC Turning & Milling Setup Technician (Aerospace)

Own your setups. Solve the tough jobs. Build aerospace-grade parts.

Start with the mission

TekPro supports a leading precision manufacturer scaling up after landing major OEM programs in aerospace and defense. The shop’s backlog is full of complex work—exactly the kind that rewards creativity, discipline, and hands-on problem solving. We’re adding setup-driven machinists who thrive in high-mix environments and want real responsibility at the machine.

Your impact

You turn complex drawings and GD&T into production reality. You design and indicate fixturing, dial in tooling, set coordinates, and prove out new work. You measure, adjust, and iterate until the process holds spec—then share what you’ve learned so the next job runs even better.

Role tracks now hiring

• 5‑Axis Setup Machinist: Lead full setups on advanced 5‑axis VMCs for intricate, multi-surface components; establish offsets, validate programs, and sort out machining challenges at the control.
• Large‑Format 3‑Axis Mill Setup: Set up and operate big‑envelope VMCs; engineer fixturing solutions and maintain accuracy across long cycle times on larger parts.
• Lathe Setup/Operator: Configure and run turning centers for close‑tolerance aerospace/defense parts; manage tools, workholding, offsets, first‑piece acceptance, and continuous fine‑tuning.

Responsibilities

• Independently complete CNC setups using prints, CAM outputs, setup docs, and work instructions.
• Execute frequent changeovers in a fast-moving precision job shop.
• Install and indicate vises, jaws, fixtures, and other workholding; load and qualify tooling.
• Set tool and work coordinates; make precise machine-side offset and parameter changes.
• Read complex engineering drawings and GD&T; translate requirements into machining strategy.
• Prove out new jobs; identify and mitigate tooling, fixturing, dimensional, and process risks early.
• Perform first-article and in-process inspections with micrometers, calipers, indicators, bore/height gauges, and related metrology.
• Continuously monitor machining; refine speeds/feeds, tooling, and offsets to sustain capability.
• Diagnose and resolve dimensional, tooling, workholding, and machining issues with minimal supervision.
• Achieve the tight tolerances and quality levels required for aerospace/defense manufacturing.
• Collaborate with programming, quality, manufacturing engineering, and fellow machinists to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Track record of CNC machining and setup in a precision shop.
• End-to-end setup independence—no reliance on a separate setup team.
• Experience in a job shop or other high‑mix setting with regular changeovers (preferred).
• Advanced blueprint/GD&T comprehension.
• Proficiency with precision measuring tools and inspection methods.
• Strong command of cutting tools, workholding, offsets, speeds/feeds, and core machining principles.
• Machine-side troubleshooting and corrective action expertise.
• Aerospace, defense, medical, or similar close‑tolerance background is a major plus.
• Openings available for experienced mid-level through top-tier setup machinists based on equipment expertise.

Why you’ll like it here

• Major OEM awards are fueling real growth—and a steady stream of sophisticated parts.
• This is not a repetitive operator position; it’s high-mix, complex setup work with meaningful ownership.
• Sharpen your craft building challenging components while collaborating with a strong technical team.

Core strength

• Proficiency in CNC setup and changeover

Equipment landscape

• VMCs: 3–4 axis (including large-format)
• VMCs: 5‑axis and beyond
• CNC lathes: 2–4 axis
• CNC lathes: multi‑axis (5+)