CNC Machinist – $35-$44/hour – Watertown
$35-$44 per hour plus overtime | First shift 6:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Full-time | Watertown / Ixonia, WI
This is not an operator job. If you load a proven program, hit cycle start, and wait for the next setup, this role is not for you.
A custom tooling and machining job shop near Watertown is looking for a CNC machinist who programs at the HAAS control in G and M code, owns accurate setups, and thinks like a business partner. Lot sizes run as small as one piece and almost never more than 20. You will do three to five setups a day across CNC mills and lathes. The right person can grow into Machine Shop Manager.
What You Will Do
- Program new parts and edit existing programs at the machine using G and M code.
- Set up and run HAAS CNC mills and CNC lathes with first-article accuracy.
- Handle 3 to 5 changeovers per shift on more than one machine.
- Read blueprints, hold print tolerances, and inspect your own work with micrometers, calipers, and other precision gauges.
- Use shop math, including geometry and trigonometry, to get setups right the first time.
- Move between one-off jobs and small lots without losing quality or time.
- Give input on tooling, fixtures, and future machine purchases so the shop keeps getting better.
- Help improve processes, cut scrap, and grow the business instead of just punching a clock.
What You Bring
- 5 or more years as a CNC machinist who programs and sets up, not an operator who only runs proven jobs.
- Hands-on experience on both CNC mills and CNC lathes.
- Able to write and edit programs at the control in G and M code.
- Comfortable doing multiple setups per shift on multiple machines.
- Strong blueprint reading, inspection, and shop-math skills, including geometry and trigonometry.
- CAD/CAM or SolidWorks experience is a plus, not required.
- You want ownership, variety, and a path toward Machine Shop Manager.
Why You Will Love It
- True job-shop variety. You will not make the same part all week.
- Your voice counts on machines, tooling, and how the shop runs.
- A real path to Machine Shop Manager for the person who wants that seat.
- Consistent first shift, Monday through Friday, with overtime available.
- Tuition reimbursement and a shop that supports people who want to keep getting better.
- 401(k) with company match, 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, and health, dental, vision, and disability insurance.
Pay: $35 to $44 per hour plus overtime.
Shift: First shift, 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Location: Ixonia, Wisconsin, a short drive from Watertown. Easy commute from Watertown, Oconomowoc, Johnson Creek, Jefferson, Wales, Hartland, Pewaukee, Waukesha, Whitewater, and Milwaukee.
Ready to Step In
If you program at the machine, own your setups, and want a shop that will listen, apply on Indeed. CNC operators who only load and cycle start will not be considered.