Job Description

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled CNC Specialist III to join our Inertial Fusion Technology (IFT) division within the Energy group. The components to be machined are typically ultra highprecision parts produced in very small quantities. Production schedules are reasonable; however, due dates are often inflexible. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced CNC machinist/programmer with a strong background in both manual and CNC machining, complex R&D and firstarticle work, and precision inspection, who can serve as a technical lead and mentor on the shop floor. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
 

• Set up and operate lathes, mills, and saws. 
• Set up and operate CNC mills and lathes, including multiaxis and micromachining centers, to produce complex, tighttolerance components. 
• Perform NC programming in both manual formats (plain Gcode and parametric Gcode) and CAD/CAM using engineering specifications and drawings. 
• Create 3D models, assemblies, and mechanical drawings in CAD/CAM software (e.g., Creo or equivalent such as SolidWorks/Mastercam), and generate CNC programs from these models. 
• Review engineering drawings to define part configuration, tolerances, and surface finishes, and determine the type and sequence of machine operations required. 
• Work on R&D and firstarticle items, including:  
• Developing machining plans and process sequences. 
• Selecting tools, workholding, and materials. 
• Writing and optimizing CNC programs in CAD/CAM and Gcode. 
• Serve as the lead machinist for production and R&D projects, coordinating work, setting priorities, and ensuring quality and ontime delivery. 
• Mentor and train other machinists in setup, operation, programming, and inspection practices. 
• Work on process improvements for established production processes, as well as firstofakind prototypes and first articles, including improving cycle time, repeatability, and quality. 
• Maintain strong customer focus and communicate effectively with customers and project engineers, providing manufacturability feedback and status updates. 
• Inspect parts using common precision inspection tools such as micrometers, calipers, digital height gages, indicators, gage blocks, surface plates, sine plates, measuring microscopes, and other tools as required. 
• Inspect parts using advanced inspection tools such as measuring microscopes, optical profilers, and other microscale inspection systems; document and interpret results. 
• Document inspection results by entering data into Excel templates or other database tools and archiving records on the server in accordance with quality requirements. 
• Support basic equipment maintenance and troubleshooting for CNC lathes and mills, and coordinate repairs as needed to maintain uptime and accuracy. 
• Work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices, and support continuous improvement in safety and housekeeping. 
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations, and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company. 
• Perform additional duties as assigned or required. 

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in computer programming or a related field and 5+ years of progressive experience in programming CNC machines. Equivalent professional experience may be substituted in lieu of education. 
• Demonstrated, comprehensive understanding of CNC application principles, machining processes, and precision manufacturing concepts. 
• Extensive handson experience setting up and operating CNC mills and lathes, including small, complex, and microscale parts. 
• Expertise with common manual shop equipment such as lathes, mills, and saws. 
• Strong NC programming skills, including:  
• Manual Gcode and parametric Gcode programming. 
• CAD/CAM programming (Creo or equivalent such as SolidWorks/Mastercam). 
• Expert level skill with common manual inspection tools such as micrometers, calipers, digital height gages, indicators, gage blocks, surface plates, and sine plates. 
• Experience with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) and the ability to interpret and apply GD&T in machining and inspection. 
• Experience mentoring or training machinists and providing technical guidance on the shop floor. 
• Experience working on R&D and firstarticle projects, including developing machining plans and working side by side with project engineers or PIs. 
• Experience serving as the lead machinist on production and R&D projects, including organizing, scheduling, and coordinating work assignments to meet project milestones and due dates. 
• Experience working on process improvements for established production processes, as well as firstofakind prototypes and first articles. 
• Knowledge and experience machining a wide range of materials, including stainless steels, tool steels, aluminum, copper, plastics, composites, and other exotic or difficulttomachine materials. 
• Experience in basic equipment maintenance and repair of CNC lathes and mills. 
• Extensive experience with micro machining lathes – Moore 250, Moore 350, Moore 650, Hardinge Super Precision Quest GT27 Lathe 
• Extensive experience with micro-machining mills – Kern Vario 5 Axis, Kern Evo 5 Axis 
• Strong customer focus and experience communicating with technical customers such as PIs and engineers. 
• Ability to use good judgment and safe practices in a shop environment. 
• Time management skills to maintain the flow of work within the unit and meet inflexible due dates. 
• Good interpersonal and written communication skills to interface with employees, supervisors, and customers, and basic computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office, data entry). 
• Ability to work in a large laboratory or research environment requiring long periods of standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs. 
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment. 
• Flexibility to work extended hours as required. 
• +4 years experience handling millimeter size components 
• Must have experience machining various materials such as stainless steel, steel, cast iron, titanium, nickel, copper, gold, lead, platinum, aluminum, PCV, peek, Acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, Delrin, rexolite, plastic, fiberglass and Ceramics 
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q level security clearance. Current active Q clearance preferred.