CNC Setup Machinist -- Milling/Turning Precision Specialist

Position type: Full-time | Location: Elk Grove Village, IL

You walk the production floor of a clean, well‑maintained shop. A new job packet lands on your bench: a complex casting for an aerospace customer. You study the print, note the GD&T callouts and critical features, and map a sequence. You pull fixtures and holders, choose inserts, and build the workholding you need. At the control, you edit toolpaths and dial in feeds and speeds. You set work and tool length offsets, cut the first piece, and verify it with micrometers, bore and thread gages. With first‑article confirmed, you release the run and keep a close eye on in‑process checks—tweaking offsets as needed, solving chatter or finish issues, and documenting as you go. Before you leave, you capture clear notes and mentor a teammate on the next setup.

At Acme, most jobs don’t repeat on a fixed cycle. You’ll own complex setups from scratch and take responsibility for part quality before production takes off. Depending on background and business need, you may focus primarily on milling or turning.

• Plan and execute advanced CNC setups from engineering drawings, travelers, and setup sheets for mills and/or lathes.
• Select cutting tools, inserts, holders, and workholding; coordinate with the tooling crib as needed.
• Establish work, tool length, and fixture offsets; validate against blueprint requirements before first‑article release.
• Create or edit programs at the control (conversational or G‑code) to achieve proper toolpaths, feeds, speeds, and clearances.
• Perform first‑piece and in‑process inspections using calipers, micrometers, height gages, indicators, bore/thread gages; document results.
• Operate CNC milling and/or turning equipment to hold close tolerances and specified surface finishes.
• Monitor tool wear, breakage, surface finish, and chatter; make timely corrections and communicate issues.
• Run multiple machines or parallel setups when appropriate.
• Complete setup documentation, traveler sign‑offs, setup sheets, and any required first‑article records.
• Work within Acme’s QMS (ISO 9001:2015 / AS9100D) and customer quality plans; report nonconformances immediately.
• Maintain a safe, organized work area aligned to 5S; follow PPE, guarding, lockout/tagout, and hazardous material procedures.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, and Quality on ambiguity or manufacturability questions before cutting chips.
• Provide clear shift handoffs and mentor CNC Operators and less‑experienced machinists; participate in continuous improvement.

• 5 years of CNC setup experience in precision machining, job shop, or contract manufacturing.
• Proven ability to independently execute complex setups on CNC mills and/or lathes.
• Expert blueprint literacy, including GD&T, tolerance interpretation, and surface finish requirements.
• Proficiency with calipers, micrometers, indicators, height gages, bore and thread gages.
• Comfort editing or writing CNC programs at the machine (conversational or G‑code).
• Close‑tolerance experience, routinely holding ±0.001 in. or tighter.
• High school diploma/GED (vocational or technical machining training preferred).
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs. independently; team‑lift for heavier work.
• Ability to read and write English and use basic computer systems.

• FANUC experience (0i, 30i, 31i series).
• Background with large‑format VMCs, HMCs, and CNC lathes with live tooling.
• Machining castings, forgings, and other near‑net‑shape workpieces.
• Experience in ISO 9001 or AS9100D certified environments.
• Familiarity with Made2Manage ERP or similar job shop systems.
• 4th/5th axis setup experience.

• Hourly range: $36.00–$42.00
• 10% shift differential for 2nd shift
• Hiring bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting Day 1
• Company‑paid life insurance, short‑ and long‑term disability
• HSA and FSA options
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Weekly pay and gainsharing bonus opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Modern equipment in a clean, well‑maintained shop

Since 1948, Acme Industries has delivered precision machining for aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation customers from Elk Grove Village, Illinois. We are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, specializing in large, complex castings and forgings where tight tolerances and consistent quality are essential. Our machinists don’t run the same part every day—they solve new problems, build creative setups, and take pride in making challenging parts right.