Senior CNC Mill Setup Specialist

Location: Glastonbury, CT

Job Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time

Shift: 2nd Shift, 3:00 PM to 12:30 AM

Base Pay: 30.00 to 40.00 per hour, commensurate with experience

Shift Differential: Additional 10 percent for 2nd shift

Additional Opening: CNC Mill Programmer, 1st Shift, 38.00 to 46.00 per hour

A day in this role

You clock in mid afternoon, review complex blueprints and specs with GD&T, and map out your plan from raw material to finished component. Your first setup involves a fixture you tailored for repeatability. You choose cutters, dial in speeds and feeds, and verify alignment. During the first article, you perform a complete inspection, confirm surface finish and tight tolerances, then optimize the CNC program to shave seconds while protecting tool life. Through the evening, you handle heavy stock removal, straddle milling, slotting, splines, keyways, gears, and precision bores, troubleshoot any tooling or material quirks, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Production to keep parts flowing.

Core responsibilities

• Set up and operate CNC milling machines to produce complex, high precision parts.

• Execute demanding operations such as heavy stock removal, straddle milling, slotting, splines, keyways, gears, and precision bores.

• Select and manage cutting tools, workholding, and fixturing methods; build, modify, and adjust fixtures as needed.

• Adjust speeds, feeds, and cutting parameters to maximize performance and quality.

• Edit and optimize CNC programs when required.

• Plan machining from blueprint review through finished part production.

• Troubleshoot machining, tooling, fixturing, and material related issues.

• Interpret complex blueprints, specifications, and GD&T.

• Conduct in process and final inspections using precision measuring equipment.

• Hold tight tolerances and achieve specified surface finishes.

• Complete first piece inspections and verify setups before production runs.

• Identify quality concerns and assist with corrective actions.

• Perform routine machine maintenance and alignment checks.

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Production to improve processes.

• Maintain tooling, fixtures, and precision equipment.

• Provide technical guidance and help train other machinists.

• Follow all safety, quality, and production standards.

What you bring

• High school diploma or GED required; technical training or apprenticeship preferred.

• Seven or more years of CNC milling experience, including complex setups.

• Deep knowledge of CNC machining principles, tooling, and materials.

• Proficiency in blueprint reading and GD&T.

• Ability to independently set up and run jobs from start to finish.

• Skilled with precision measuring instruments.

• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.

• Capability to work independently and collaborate within a team.

Preferred background

• CNC programming experience.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, tool and die, or other precision manufacturing settings.

• Familiarity with ISO, AS9100, or equivalent quality standards.

• Prior experience training or mentoring machinists.

Tools and machines you will use

• CNC Mill, 3 to 4 axis VMC

• CNC Mill, 5 plus axis VMC

Proficiency focus

• CNC machine setup and changeover

• Machine setups for production runs

Benefits

• Health insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• 401(k) with matching

• Additional 2nd shift differential

Physical requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods.

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

• Comfort working around machine tools, cutting fluids, noise, and typical manufacturing conditions.

• Good manual dexterity and visual ability for precision machining tasks.

Work Location: On site in Glastonbury, CT

This is a direct hire role with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package. If you excel at independently setting up and running complex milling jobs, we invite you to apply.