Senior CNC Programmer; MasterCam

Senior CNC Programmer (Master Cam)

Wild West Systems is an American defense technology company with the mission to equip the civilized world with superior and affordable arms and advanced technologies - to dominate the battlefield of present and future threats, in a new era of asymmetrical warfare. We fuse versatile domain experience with novel approach and creativity to change the paradigm of defense - both for military arenas and civilian soft targets.

We're an early stage startup, rapidly moving and growing.

• Deep love for America and passion for Wild West System's mission.
• Self-starter, capable of performing tasks as an individual as well as working well in a team.
• Servant-leader mentality, extreme ownership, willing to participate in different and rapidly changing projects in a dynamic environment. Bias for action.
• ITAR REQUIREMENT:
  To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

We are seeking a hands-on Senior CNC Machinist who can program, set up, and run machines independently, not just operate them.

You will own parts end-to-end: CAM programming, tooling strategy, setup, machining, and delivery. This is a fast-paced, high-ownership role supporting both rapid prototyping and small production runs. Occasional late nights or weekends may be required when mission-critical deadlines arise.

If you're the machinist people call when something "impossible" needs to be cut tomorrow, this role is for you.

• Program complex components in Mastercam, including multi-surface geometry, miniature features, and non-traditional toolpaths.
• Set up and validate machines for lights-out / unattended operation, including tooling strategy, probing, work holding, chip evacuation, and in-process inspection to ensure safe, repeatable runs.
• Independently set up and run multiple machines, including: CNC Lathe (Okuma), 5-Axis CNC Mill (DMG), Swiss Lathe, Manual Lathe and Mill.
• Select tooling and fixtures; determine optimal feeds, speeds, and machining strategies.
• Support prototype builds and short-run production manufacturing.
• Troubleshoot machining issues quickly and keep machines running with minimal downtime.
• Order tools and materials as needed to eliminate bottlenecks.
• Adapt to daily changes and unexpected challenges in a startup manufacturing environment.
• Perform and document First Article Inspections (FAI) and in-process inspections.
• Maintain part traceability, material pedigree, and basic production documentation.
• Partner with engineering to provide Design-for-Manufacturing (DFM) feedback and improve manufacturability.
• Support continuous improvement of machining processes, tooling strategies, and shop standards.

• 7+ years of hands-on CNC machining experience across multiple platforms.
• Demonstrated Mastercam programming experience (beyond simple edits).
• Ability to supervise and manage multiple machines simultaneously.
• Strong experience holding tight tolerances in high-precision environments.
• Proven self-starter with a "get it done" mindset and high ownership mentality.
• Experience working in or alongside AS9100 / ISO-quality manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of material specifications, certifications, and lot traceability.
• Preferred Skills & Experience
• Background in aerospace, defense, robotics, or other high-tolerance industries.
• Experience with multi-axis machining and complex assemblies.
• Familiarity with prototype-driven or rapid-iteration manufacturing environments.
• Comfort producing repeatable, production-ready parts-not just one-off prototypes.
• Interest in helping define machining standards as the manufacturing operation scales.

• Background in aerospace, defense, robotics, or other high-tolerance industries.
• Experience with multi-axis machining and complex assemblies.
• Familiarity with…