Machine Shop Lead

Sikky Manufacturing and XGen Manufacturing operate under one roof as a powerhouse of precision engineering, advanced CNC machining, and American craftsmanship. While

Sikky Manufacturing and XGen Manufacturing operate under one roof as a powerhouse of precision engineering, advanced CNC machining, and American craftsmanship. While Sikky leads the world in elite, high-performance automotive components,
XGen delivers aerospace-level, custom-contract machining for defense, tech, and industrial applications. Driven by rapid growth and ongoing investment in state-of-the-art machinery, we are seeking a hands-on Machine Shop Lead to take ownership of floor operations, mentor our team, and help build the foundation for our expanding machining department.

The Machine Shop Lead balances shop floor supervision with technical execution. You will oversee daily workflows, optimize production schedules, and troubleshoot complex setups on CNC mills and lathes while ensuring quality standards across both performance automotive and tight-tolerance defense/industrial projects.

$35 - $40 hourly

• Experience:
  
  5+ years of hands-on experience in a precision CNC machine shop environment.
• Leadership:
  Proven ability to lead, delegate, and mentor floor technicians.
• Technical Mastery:
  Deep knowledge of multi-axis CNC mill/lathe setup, tool offset compensation, speeds/feeds, and blueprint reading.
• Industry Preference:
  Background or passion for automotive racing, defense, or aerospace manufacturing is highly valued.
• Education:
  
  Technical school degree, completed apprenticeship, or equivalent practical experience.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Ability to lift up to 75 lbs unassisted.

• Department Leadership & Strategy
• Lead daily work assignments, delegate floor operations, and balance machine capacities to hit production deadlines.
• Partner directly with the Production Manager on schedule optimization, process improvements, and future machine tool investments.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and skill development to machinists and operators to build a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
• Participate in performance reviews and assist in onboarding and growing new shop talent.
• Technical Execution & R&D
• Set up, adjust, and operate complex CNC mills and lathes for high-precision batch runs and prototype parts.
• Collaborate closely with CNC Programmers and Engineering to refine part processes, improve cycle times, and optimize NC code.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for CNC machine maintenance, repair technicians, and tooling vendors.
• Support R&D initiatives for new Sikky product development and XGen contract manufacturing specs.
• Operations & Quality Control
• Inspect first-article and production parts against CAD files and tight engineering prints.
• Monitor consumable inventories (tooling, inserts, raw stock) and coordinate needs with procurement.
• Enforce safety protocols and company SOPs, and maintain a clean, organized work environment.