WL - Lead CNC Machinist; 1st Shift

Ward Leonard LLC, 401 Watertown Rd, Thomaston, Connecticut, United States of America

Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM

Ward Leonard, a Fairbanks Morse Defense Company, is an industry-leading provider of electric motor, generator, control, and service solutions critical to Naval applications for more than 120 years. Located in Thomaston, Connecticut, Ward Leonard has worked hard to build a reputation as being a trusted name in powering the defense industry. This trust within the market is not possible without the continued hard work, commitment, and dedication of our team who respect the importance of what we do and the impact it has on the servicemen and women.

Mission-Driven. Honor-Bound. Fairbanks Morse Defense. What’s your calling? For the men and women of Fairbanks Morse Defense, it’s the rapid and effective support of the fleets that entrust us to design, develop, and deliver the best naval power technology on the planet. We’re one of the nation’s leading marine defense contractors because of the highly trained and dedicated teams that provide reliable power systems, parts, and aftermarket services to the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and Canadian Coast Guard.

When you join Fairbanks Morse Defense, you join a legacy of commitment that spans 150 years. Fairbanks Morse Defense offers competitive benefits with a wide range of training and development opportunities. Our world-class teams are dedicated to helping every individual achieve their full potential. Discover what it’s like to be a part of the Fairbanks Morse Defense team here:

Ward Leonard, a Fairbanks Morse Defense company, is seeking an accomplished, hands-on Lead CNC Machinist to help drive precision machining excellence in support of mission-critical defense applications. This is an opportunity for an experienced CNC professional to lead from the shop floor—working with advanced machining technology, solving complex manufacturing challenges, and mentoring a skilled team that takes pride in producing high-quality components to exacting standards.

The Lead CNC Machinist will oversee and support CNC machinists in the setup, programming, and operation of multi-axis CNC lathes, vertical turret lathes (VTLs), 5-axis mill-turn centers, and cylindrical grinding machines. This role is ideal for someone who combines deep machining expertise with strong leadership skills and a commitment to safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.

In addition to supporting daily production, the Lead CNC Machinist will guide complex setups, optimize machining processes, troubleshoot technical issues, and develop the capabilities of other machinists. Working closely with engineering, programming, production, and quality teams, this individual will help ensure precision components for defense-related electro-mechanical systems are manufactured accurately, efficiently, and on schedule while meeting demanding customer and quality requirements.

• Lead and mentor CNC machinists in daily operations, ensuring adherence to setup procedures, machining standards, and safety protocols.
• Set up and operate multi-axis CNC lathes, VTLs, 5-axis mill-turn, and cylindrical grinding machines to manufacture precision components to tight tolerances.
• Oversee and verify CNC program optimization for performance, tool life, and part quality; assist with complex setups and troubleshooting.
• Train and develop team members on the proper use of tooling, work holding, offsets, G-code editing, grinding wheel setup and balancing, and inspection methods.
• Review and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, GD&T specifications, and work instructions to confirm compliance with customer and quality requirements.
• Coordinate in-process and final inspections using manual and automated metrology tools to verify dimensional accuracy.
• Monitor and adjust machining operations in real time to ensure part conformance and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, programming, and quality teams to resolve manufacturing challenges and drive continuous improvement.
• Plan and prioritize work…