Project Machinist

About the role

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory Location: Lexington, MA 02420 Job Type: Full Time Shift: Standard hours; occasional overtime for critical program milestones Experience: 8+ years in simultaneous 5-axis machining Machines: 5-axis CNC machining centers Controls: Heidenhain iTNC 530 Software: hyperMILL, SolidWorks, Microsoft Office Why This Job Is Worth Considering MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Fabrication Engineering Group fabricates high-complexity prototype hardware for national security programs, with sub-thousandth accuracy typical. As a Project Machinist specializing in 5-axis work, you'll own your assigned parts end to end - developing the fabrication approach, designing fixtures, programming CAM, and running the machine - while collaborating directly with program engineers on parts that are still being defined. You'll also mentor junior machinists and help shape how the group approaches its most complex work. What You'll Be Doing Program, set up, and operate 5-axis CNC equipment for high-precision prototype parts Read mechanical drawings and interpret GD&T Design and fabricate basic fixtures Mentor and instruct junior machinists Use hand tools and inspection equipment (calipers, micrometers, dial indicators) to verify work Participate in manufacturability reviews and provide feedback Maintain a clean, organized work area and follow safety protocols Machines, Controls and Software Core equipment is 5-axis CNC machining centers running a Heidenhain iTNC 530 control. CAM programming is done in hyperMILL, with SolidWorks used for 3D CAD; m&h on-machine inspection software is a plus for in-process verification. What We're Looking ForRequired 8+ years of direct experience in simultaneous 5-axis machining, including setup, CAM programming, tooling selection, and CAM simulation Ability to read mechanical drawings and interpret GD&T Capability to design and fabricate basic fixtures Demonstrated mentoring and instructing experience with junior machinists Proficiency with hand tools and inspection equipment (calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, etc.) Software experience: CAM, 3D CAD, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) Enthusiasm for learning new fabrication techniques and machine tools Strong teamwork and collaboration skills Confidence participating in manufacturability reviews Self-motivated, with excitement for R&D work supporting prototype development Maintains a clean, organized workspace and follows safety protocols Ability to lift up to 50 lbs Preferred Prior experience in high-mix, low-volume job shop environments Proficiency with SolidWorks CAD, hyperMILL CAM, m&h on-machine inspection software, and Heidenhain iTNC 530 controller Experience machining titanium, Invar, metal matrix composites, Hastelloy, 17-4 PH, or fiber-reinforced composites Familiarity with Model Based Definition and PLM software (Aras Innovator) Experience with ultrasonic machining Pay, Benefits and Schedule Standard hours, with occasional overtime to meet critical program milestones. About MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Apply MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded R&D center operated by MIT, based in Lexington, MA, developing advanced technology in support of national security. This search is being run by hireCNC's Retained Search team on behalf of MIT Lincoln Laboratory - apply through Quick Apply and your resume goes straight to the recruiters working this role.