CNC Programmer

This is a launch company applying an agile approach to space launch, building on over a decade of technology development in rocket propulsion, structures and avionics. They deliver routine access to Earth orbit for enterprises launching services powered by small satellites.

Their headquarters sits in Alameda, between San Francisco and Oakland. The campus supports full cycle rocket production, from design through manufacturing and test, plus mission control.

The production team is a small, highly skilled group running multi axis lights out cell systems. They take raw material to finished form against dimensional requirements and schedule constraints, with the goal of producing parts faster, cheaper and at higher quality than any outside shop.

This role reports directly to the Production Shop Manager.

• Programme production CNC machines using CAM software such as NX, making tool selections and calculating feeds and speeds
• Interpret dimensioned part drawings and select the correct machine tools, work holding and inspection equipment
• Use pallet sequences, tool life counters, bar feeders and tool break detection to drive a lights out approach to machining
• Lead production on your machines by keeping setup and operator personnel supplied with pre programmed jobs and setup guidance
• Set up and operate CNC machines, or hand off to support personnel, including new tool setup and work holding, proofing programs and loading parts
• Operate manual metal cutting machinery including knee mills, manual lathes, drill presses, surface grinders and saws
• Inspect in process parts with handheld tools, working with the Quality Control lab where needed
• Work with shop staff, Quality Control, engineering personnel and machine vendors
• Identify bottlenecks and recurring issues, and offer solutions to improve shop effectiveness

• Someone with 10 or more years as a CNC machinist, used to a fast paced shop
• 2 or more years with NX CAM, and experience programming and running 5 axis mills, mill turns, horizontal mills, and lathes with live tooling
• Someone who has kept setup and operator personnel supplied with pre programmed jobs, and is comfortable mentoring team members relying on their direction
• Someone who makes independent priority calls on scheduling machines and operators based on scope of work
• Fluent in shop drawings and GD&T, able to calculate feeds and speeds and solve geometry problems, and confident with calipers, micrometers, hard gauges and surface plate inspection
• Comfortable working with machine vendors, CAM vendors and other technical vendors to resolve machine issues
• Able to lift 40lbs or more, push heavy carts or crates, and stretch, reach, kneel or crawl as tasks require
• Useful extras:
  Mastercat, CATIA or ESPRIT, high mix job shop experience, fabrication including welding, sheet metal, waterjet or assembly, engineering or design training, lean certifications, wire, sinker or drill EDM

$170,000 to $200,000. Equity as part of the package. Health, vision, dental and 401k. Hot lunch every day, quarterly off sites and frequent happy hours. This role is subject to US export control regulations, so it is contingent on US citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected individual status, or eligibility to obtain the required authorisations from the Department of State.