Lead CNC MachinistFathom Mfg

Company History: Fathom is one of the largest digital manufacturing platforms offering on-demand manufacturing in North America. With more than 90 large-platform industrial-grade 3D printing machines and a national footprint with more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity across 10 facilities, Fathom seamlessly blends in-house capabilities across plastic and metal additive technologies, CNC machining, injection molding & tooling, urethane casting, sheet metal fabrication, and design and engineering. 

With over 50 years of industry experience, Fathom is at the forefront of the industry 4.0 digital manufacturing revolution serving clients in the technology, defense, aerospace, medical, automotive and IOT sectors. Fathom’s extensive certifications include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 Design, ISO 13485:2016, AS9100:2016, NIST 800-171 and ITAR.

What we offer: 

Position Summary

The Lead CNC Machinist is responsible for overseeing daily CNC machining operations while serving as a technical leader and mentor on the shop floor. This role combines hands-on machining expertise with leadership responsibilities to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production in support of customer and company requirements. The Lead CNC Machinist drives setup efficiency, process improvement, and adherence to quality standards while supporting production goals.

Key Responsibilities

Technical / Machining Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot CNC milling and/or turning centers.

• Interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, CAD models, and work instructions.

• Select tooling, fixturing, and cutting parameters to optimize quality and efficiency.

• Prove out new jobs and validate first article parts.

• Make program edits at the machine or offline as required.

• Perform complex setups and support operators with technical issues.

• Ensure proper tooling condition, offsets, and machine readiness.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical leadership and guidance to CNC machinists and operators.

• Train and mentor team members on setups, machining best practices, and safety procedures.

• Support workload distribution and priority execution based on production schedules.

• Communicate effectively with supervisors, engineering, quality, and maintenance teams.

• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure parts meet drawing specifications and customer requirements.

• Utilize precision measuring equipment (micrometers, calipers, bore gages, indicators, etc.).

• Support first article inspections and in-process verification.

• Maintain compliance with company quality standards (ISO9001 / ISO13485 if applicable).

• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions related to machining issues.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve cycle times, setup reduction, and overall equipment effectiveness.

• Assist with process documentation and standardized work instructions.

• Promote 5S / 6S practices and workplace organization.

• Support implementation of new tooling and manufacturing technologies.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree or apprenticeship preferred.

• 5–10+ years CNC machining experience in a precision manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated leadership experience or strong mentoring capability.

• Strong understanding of GD&T and blueprint reading.

• Experience with CNC controls (Fanuc, Haas, Mazak, Okuma, or similar).

• Ability to edit G-code and optimize machining processes.

• Proficient with precision measuring instruments.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in high-precision or regulated industries (medical, aerospace, defense, etc.).

• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.

• Experience with multi-axis machining.

• Exposure to offline programming or CAM software.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods.

• Ability to lift up to 40–50 lbs occasionally.

• Frequent walking, bending, reaching, and handling of tooling and parts.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing machine shop environment.

• Exposure to machine noise, cutting fluids, and moving equipment.

• Required use of PPE including safety glasses and steel-toe shoes.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Production Supervisor / Operations Manager

• Works closely with: CNC Operators, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance

Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage. Company paid for Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance.

Additional Benefits: Paid time off, Floating Holidays, Volunteer time off, and sick time off (depending on state of employment). 401k Plan

Employee Perks: Discounts on products and services.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.  If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.