Machine Shop Manager

Job Details Level: Management

Job Location:

Santa Ana, CA 92707

Position Type:
Full Time Education Level: High School Salary Range: $ - $ Salary Job Shift: Day

All American Racers is searching for a Machine Shop Manager to take full ownership of a six-mill CNC machine shop for a growing space & defense manufacturer that runs both composites and precision machining. This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced machinist who is equally fluent in CAM programming, setups, quoting, and quality control. You will run the shop end to end — building quoting, material planning, and production scheduling;

assessing manufacturability and technical risk; and driving execution across programming, setups, tooling, inspection, and on-time delivery — all while mentoring the next generation of machinists and operators.

• Take full ownership of end-to-end machine shop production; monitor KPIs and drive improvements across quality, throughput, cost, and delivery.
• Serve as the primary authority for shop operations — production planning, scheduling, capacity planning, resource allocation, and tooling.
• Review quote requests and build accurate labor, material, tooling, and machine-time estimates; assess manufacturability, technical risk, and no-bid or alternate-solution opportunities.
• Select the right materials, tooling, fixtures, machining methods, and work holding for each job.
• Generate CAM toolpaths and G-code for 3-axis and 5-axis indexed CNC equipment.
• Set up and operate manual and CNC equipment as needed — particularly for complex, high-tolerance, prototype, or production parts.
• Ensure parts are built to customer specifications, drawings, tolerances, and quality requirements.
• Perform and oversee in-process and final inspection using calipers, micrometers, CMMs, and other precision equipment; identify nonconformances and direct or perform rework.
• Maintain quality, traceability, inspection, and production documentation in line with ISO 9001 and AS9100.
• Identify, source, and procure tooling, fixtures, materials, and equipment.
• Own ERP configuration and transactions — work order releases, BOMs, routers, labor tracking, daily balancing, and quality records.
• Supervise, develop, and mentor machinists and CNC operators; build a culture of quality, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Keep the shop clean, organized, and safe, and partner with leadership on capability, capacity, throughput, automation, and cost-saving initiatives.

• Hands-on experience across both composite manufacturing and CNC mill machining — this role spans both disciplines.
• 7+ years of machining experience across manual and CNC equipment, including a CNC mill environment.
• Strong CAM programming and machine setup experience (Fusion 360, Mastercam, or equivalent), generating complex toolpaths and G-code for 3- and 5-axis work.
• Demonstrated ability to build and own quoting, material planning, and production scheduling.
• Proven experience assessing manufacturability and technical risk, developing accurate labor/material estimates, and making no-bid or alternate-solution calls.
• Prior leadership, supervisory, training, or mentoring experience in a machine shop.
• Strong command of GD&T, engineering drawings, machining methods, tooling, fixturing, work holding, and inspection practices.
• Proficiency with precision inspection equipment (calipers, micrometers, CMMs) and with ERP/MRP or job-tracking systems; advanced Excel.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 quality systems — inspection, traceability, and documentation.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, medical, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Prior responsibility for departmental budgets, procurement, tooling inventory, or capital equipment recommendations.
• Experience implementing automation, lean, or other initiatives to improve machining output and efficiency.