Lead Machinist Jobs

Lead Machinist jobs are open across aerospace, automotive, defense, and industrial manufacturing, with specializations in CNC operations, precision turning, and tool-and-die work, from journeyman to senior lead and supervisor level. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Lead Machinist Jobs

Overview

Open roles54
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerHireBridge Recruiting
Top citySanta Ana, CA
Work type94% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 54+ Lead Machinist jobs

CNC Machinist 2 & Lead
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Added 1d ago
CNC Machinist 2 & Lead
Micro precision industries
South Windham, Connecticut
Customer Service
Customer Support
$35 - $40/hr
High school diploma or GED

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CNC Lathe Machinist Setup/Operator Lead
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Added 2d ago
CNC Lathe Machinist Setup/Operator Lead
RAH INDUSTRIES
Valencia, California
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
$27.51 - $38/hr
On-Site
51-200

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Lead CNC Lathe Machinist 2nd Shift
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Added 3d ago
Lead CNC Lathe Machinist 2nd Shift
Tribus Aerospace
Poway, California
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$32 - $41/hr
High school diploma or GED

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CNC Lead Machinist
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Added 3d ago
CNC Lead Machinist
AS Talent Advisors
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$30 - $33/hr
2-10

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Second Shift CNC Lathe Machinist - Lead
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Added 3d ago
Second Shift CNC Lathe Machinist - Lead
Advance Machine Technologies
Johnston, Iowa
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
$32 - $36/hr
On-Site
High school diploma or GED

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Lead Machinist Job Market

Who's Hiring

HireBridge Recruiting3 open roles
RTCA2 open roles
laborup2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in lead machinist jobs.

  • 5 or more years of CNC machining experience, including setup and programming
  • Proficiency reading and interpreting engineering drawings and GD&T callouts
  • Experience operating lathes, milling machines, and multi-axis machining centers
  • Ability to supervise and mentor a team of two or more machinists
  • NIMS certification or equivalent vocational or apprenticeship training preferred
  • Familiarity with quality control tools including calipers, micrometers, and CMM

Tips for Your Lead Machinist Job Search

Quantify output on your resume

List the tolerances you routinely held, the materials you machined, and the number of operators you supervised. Lead machinist resumes that include specific tolerance specs and machine types get pulled faster than those listing only job duties.

List your certifications by issuing body

Spell out NIMS credentials, specific G-code controller certifications, and any manufacturer training by name. Generic phrases like 'certified machinist' mean less to hiring managers than 'NIMS Turning Operations Level 2' or 'Mazak Smooth Technology training.'

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists lead machinist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target postings that name your machine types

Filter job listings by the CNC platforms you know, whether that's Fanuc, Haas, or Okuma. Applying to roles that match your controller experience means you skip the retraining conversation and interview as a ready-to-run candidate.

Prep for a skills demonstration, not just questions

Many lead machinist interviews include a shop floor component where you read a print, identify tooling, or walk through a setup. Review GD&T callouts you haven't used recently and be ready to explain your inspection process out loud.

Negotiate your shift differential upfront

Lead machinist roles frequently run second or third shift. Ask about differential pay and overtime structure before you accept an offer, since those figures affect your real take-home more than base rate alone on a 10-hour or 12-hour schedule.

Lead Machinist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most lead machinists?

HireBridge Recruiting, RTCA, and laborup are hiring the most lead machinists right now, with openings concentrated in California, Connecticut, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Aerospace, defense, and heavy equipment manufacturers tend to post the highest volumes of lead-level roles.

How many lead machinist jobs are remote?

About 6% of lead machinist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most machining work. The small remote share is concentrated in roles with a planning, programming, or quality-review focus rather than direct floor supervision.

How do you become a lead machinist?

Most lead machinists start as CNC operators or setup machinists, then build experience across multiple machine types and materials. Earning a NIMS credential or completing a formal apprenticeship strengthens your case for promotion. From there, demonstrating consistent quality output, the ability to read complex prints, and willingness to train junior operators positions you for a lead role.

Can you get hired as a lead machinist with limited experience?

Getting hired directly into a lead role with limited experience is uncommon because employers expect you to train and supervise others from day one. A realistic path is to target senior machinist or setup-specialist openings first, build a reputation for holding tight tolerances and hitting production targets, and move into a lead role after proving yourself on the floor.

What does the lead machinist interview process look like?

Most lead machinist interviews combine a phone or video screen with a technical in-person round. The in-person stage often includes a print-reading exercise, questions about your setup process for specific machines, and a discussion of how you handle scrap, downtime, or operator performance issues. Some shops add a short floor walk where you identify tooling or talk through a hypothetical setup.

Where can I find and apply to lead machinist jobs?

You can find and apply to lead machinist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your machine type experience and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.

See All 54 Lead Machinist Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Lead Machinist Jobs