Job Description

VTL Machinist — Large Diameter Precision Turning | Aerospace & Defense

$28–$38/hr + 10% 2nd Shift Differential | Hire-On Bonus | Day 1 Benefits | Weekly Pay

Elk Grove Village, IL | Full-Time | 1st & 2nd Shift

If you've run a VTL on large diameter work, we want to talk to you.

Acme Industries machines large, complex castings and forgings for aerospace, defense, power generation, and industrial customers — parts measured in feet, weighing hundreds of pounds, going into aircraft, defense systems, and turbines. We're looking for a VTL Machinist who has done this kind of work before and can own the machine from setup to last part with minimal supervision.

This is one of the rarest skill sets in the Chicago area. If you've spent your career on vertical turret lathes running large-diameter precision components, you already know that. We know it too — and we pay accordingly.

2nd shift is open now at $28–$38/hr plus a 10% differential. **1st shift openings are open too **— if days are your preference, apply now and we'll keep you in the conversation.

What You'll Own

• Set up and operate CNC vertical turret lathes to produce large-diameter precision components from engineering drawings, routers, and work orders — you own the setup, not just the run
• Select and install tooling, inserts, fixtures, and workholding for large, heavy workpieces — including crane-assisted part handling
• Perform in-process and final inspection using precision measurement tools — micrometers, bore gauges, dial indicators, and CMM where applicable
• Read and interpret GD&T and blueprints accurately and independently — you work from a print, not from memory
• Monitor feeds, speeds, and tool wear; make offsets and adjustments to maintain tight tolerances on large, complex parts
• Diagnose and resolve machine alarms, tooling failures, and surface condition issues without waiting for engineering support
• Maintain accurate production records, first-article documentation, and non-conformance reports
• Collaborate with day shift at turnover — communicate open issues, in-process jobs, and priorities clearly so nothing falls through
• Participate in cross-training and knowledge transfer as the team grows

What We Need

Required:

• 5+ years of hands-on CNC VTL experience with large-diameter workpieces — not small-part turning
• Demonstrated setup responsibility — start to finish, not operator-only experience
• Proficiency reading blueprints and GD&T
• Precision measurement and inspection experience on turned components
• Comfort with crane-assisted part handling for large, heavy workpieces
• Ability to troubleshoot machine alarms, tooling issues, and out-of-tolerance conditions independently

Strongly Preferred:

• FANUC control experience
• Aerospace, defense, power generation, or heavy industrial manufacturing background
• AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality system familiarity
• High-mix, low-volume experience — different parts, different setups, different challenges regularly
• Experience informally mentoring or training less experienced operators

Why Acme

• $28–$38/hr — range reflects your actual VTL setup depth and large-diameter experience, not a starting floor everyone gets
• 10% shift differential on 2nd shift — a machinist at $33/hr base takes home the equivalent of $36.30/hr effective on 2nd
• Hire-on bonus — money in your pocket when you start
• Day 1 medical, dental, and vision — no waiting period
• Weekly pay — not bi-weekly like most shops
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Gainsharing bonus — when Acme hits its numbers, you share in it
• Overtime opportunities — 2nd shift overtime adds up fast
• Tuition assistance — we invest in your growth
• Complex, high-value work — large aerospace and defense components that matter, not commodity turning
• 75+ years of stability — founded in 1948, PE-backed, actively growing
• Clear path to lead and training roles — workforce development and apprenticeship program being built now
• Clean, safe, modern facility — we take the shop environment seriously