Senior CNC Machinist Setter

This Dunedin precision shop is after Senior CNC Machinist Setters, and the brief is clear: people who can set up tricky parts properly, hold them in tolerance and keep doing it run after run. It is a business of about 30 staff producing high-mix, low-run components for fields including medical and aerospace.

From a recruiter's view, the strongest applicants will show deep hands-on time on mill-turn, Swiss-type or multi-axis machines, confidence with complex geometries and a habit of checking their own work. The employer also values independence, good judgement and respect for process. The jobs are permanent and full-time, on day or night shift.

It is an accredited employer under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and mentions potential immigration support, sponsorship included, for exceptional candidates who line up closely with the skills, experience and attributes it wants.

To stand out, tailor your English CV to the duties below. Name each machine you have set, give examples of first-off validation and in-process checks, and mention any coaching you have done. Tailor your machinist CV using Build AI CV so those points sit near the top.

• Plan each setup from the engineering drawing, process documents and job instructions
• Set up demanding CNC jobs and run them safely, efficiently and to the specification
• Select the right tools, workholding and fixtures for the part
• Set machine parameters job by job
• Prove first-off parts before a run starts
• Inspect in process with suitable precision measuring equipment
• Make the quality of every part your responsibility, against the drawing, tolerances and customer expectations
• Keep an eye on machine performance and production flow, and fix issues before they slow things down
• Escalate programming or process questions when required, with a clear grasp of how tooling, offsets and parameters influence quality and productivity
• Run more than one machine and juggle competing priorities
• Deburr and finish so parts leave your station ready for the customer
• Guide and coach less experienced colleagues
• Work with programmers, quality staff and production leaders to hit delivery dates and build better machining practice

• Usually 10+ years working as a CNC Machinist
• Within that, complex setups and tight-tolerance work
• Experience on one or more of these machines: Swiss-type lathes, 5-axis machining centres, 3-axis machining centres or mill-turn machining centres
• The ability to read and interpret engineering drawings to a high standard
• Advanced knowledge of machining processes and cutting strategies
• Advanced knowledge of tooling and workholding
• Proficiency with precision measuring equipment such as micrometers, height gauges, calipers and bore gauges
• Experience deburring and finishing precision-machined components
• CMM experience, on Micro-Vu and/or Hexagon, would be advantageous
• Some exposure to CNC programming or CAM systems such as TopSolid is an advantage
• Self-motivated, comfortable working independently and still a team player
• Strong problem-solving skills, a methodical approach to troubleshooting and excellent written and verbal English
• A relevant trade qualification is preferred