Role Snapshot — Houston, TX
Join our Houston team as a precision-focused machinist who thrives on manual turning and grinding. You will operate manual lathes and related grinding equipment to produce tight-tolerance components, ensuring every part meets print and process specifications.
Your Day in the Shop
- Begin with a review of blueprints, technical drawings, and work orders to plan setups and machining sequences.
- Set up and run manual lathes to turn, grind, and finish metal parts to specification, adjusting feeds, speeds, and tooling for optimal results.
- Monitor machine performance continuously and fine-tune parameters to maintain dimensional accuracy and surface finish.
- Verify quality at the machine using precision metrology (calipers, micrometers, surface roughness tester, hardness tester) and perform in-process checks.
- Complete part inspections, including First Article Inspection (FAI) when required, and flag any nonconforming product for disposition.
- Perform routine preventive maintenance and troubleshoot issues on manual lathes and grinders to minimize downtime.
- Maintain a clean, orderly, and safe work area in accordance with safety procedures and company policy.
- Collaborate with teammates and communicate status updates to meet daily production goals; record work and move tickets in ERP/MRP systems.
- Contribute to Continuous Improvement, support Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) processes as applicable, and drive better throughput and quality.
What You Bring
- High school diploma or equivalent; formal machining coursework or apprenticeship training is a plus.
- Hands-on experience operating manual lathes in a manufacturing environment.
- Solid grasp of machining fundamentals, tooling, workholding, and grinding principles.
- Fluency in reading and interpreting technical drawings, GD&T callouts, and work instructions.
- Exceptional attention to detail with a consistent focus on quality and accuracy.
- Resourceful problem-solver who can work independently and as part of a team.
- Working knowledge of safety practices in an industrial/manufacturing setting.
Strengths You’ll Apply
- Continuous Improvement
- Preventive Maintenance & Inspection
- Deburring techniques
- ERP & MRP system usage
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) familiarity
- Precision measurement & inspection
- First Article Inspection (FAI)
- Machine setups for production runs
- Manual machining expertise
- Identifying nonconforming product
- Blueprint reading
- Basic computer skills
Tools and Equipment You’ll Touch
- Manual Lathe and Vertical Lathe
- OD/ID and Cylindrical Grinders
- Surface Grinder and Centerless Grinder
- Surface Roughness Tester and Hardness Tester
- Calipers and Micrometers
- Overhead Crane
- ERP Software
If precision, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement motivate you, this role offers a hands-on path to make a measurable impact on product quality and on-time delivery in Houston, TX.