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CNC Machinist

Custom Machining & Tool

$26-30/hour • Health Insurance Day One • Flexible Schedule • No Micromanagement

Roanoke, VA
$26 - $30/hr
Full-Time
Health Insurance Day 1
Flexible Start Times
Early Fridays
Weekend Shop Access

About the Role

Custom Machining & Tool is hiring an experienced CNC machinist (lathe operator) in Roanoke, VA. This is a small-batch precision shop—not a corporate button-pushing factory.

You'll do your own setups, your own programming (FeatureCam), and your own troubleshooting on 4-axis Okuma lathes, Fanuc and Haas mills. We run stainless steel, titanium, and Inconel. If you like autonomy and problem-solving, not assembly-line repetition, this is your shop.

What makes this different:

  • Start between 6am-8:30am (your choice—just work your 8 hours)
  • Leave early Friday when the week's work is done
  • Take 2 hours for an emergency? Go. Come back when you can.
  • Use the shop on weekends for personal projects (build AR parts, work on your truck)
  • No one hovering over your shoulder every 5 minutes
  • One employee has been here 30 years. People quit other jobs to come back here.

This is freedom. Not corporate BS.

What You'll Get

Compensation

  • $26-30/hour based on experience
  • Hit $30/hour in 6 months if you're good
  • Performance-based raises (no set schedule)
  • Weekly pay
  • Overtime available when needed

Benefits

  • Health insurance 50% employer-paid (starts DAY ONE)
  • Health Savings Account with employer match
  • 2 weeks paid vacation (NEVER canceled)
  • Paid holidays
  • Flexible start times (6am-8:30am)
  • Early Friday releases when work is done
  • Weekend shop access for personal projects

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

  • Set up and operate 4-axis CNC lathes (Okuma machines)
  • Program using FeatureCam (we'll train if you know G-code basics)
  • Read blueprints and work with tight tolerances (mostly ±0.005", occasionally ±0.0005")
  • Run small-batch jobs (1-100 pieces, rarely production runs)
  • Deburr and inspect your own parts
  • Solve problems independently (no step-by-step hand-holding)
  • Work with stainless steel, titanium, and Inconel

What You Need

Must Have:

  • 2+ years CNC experience (lathe or mill)
  • Blueprint reading (GD&T, tolerances)
  • G-code knowledge (you've edited code at the machine)
  • Problem-solving mindset (don't need step-by-step for every job)
  • Discipline to handle freedom (we don't babysit, but work gets done)

Bonus Points:

FeatureCam, MasterCAM, or any CAM softwareWelding skills (especially TIG)4-axis or live tooling experienceManual lathe/mill background

You're NOT a Fit If:

  • You've only pushed buttons on pre-programmed production runs
  • You need constant supervision or structure
  • You've had 6+ jobs in the last 2 years
  • You hide mistakes instead of owning them

The Shop

Custom Machining & Tool is a small-batch precision machine shop in Roanoke, VA. We're not a corporate factory. We're 8 people who run their own setups, solve their own problems, and work without someone breathing down their necks.

Shop Culture:

  • Laid back but productive
  • Everyone helps everyone
  • No backstabbing, no politics
  • Conservative blue-collar values
  • People stay decades, not months

Equipment:

  • 4-axis Okuma lathes
  • Fanuc and Haas CNC mills
  • FeatureCam offline programming
  • Full tooling and measuring equipment provided

One employee has been here 30 years. Multiple employees quit for "better opportunities" and came back saying "I wish I'd never left." That's what freedom and respect look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we're looking for 2+ years of lathe or mill experience. Mark will train you on his specific machines, but you need the foundation.
That's fine. If you're a strong CNC machinist, Mark can train you on lathes.
No, but you should know G-code basics. Mark will teach you FeatureCam.
You need basic hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches). Mark provides specialty tools, measuring equipment, and will help you get started if you're light on tools.
No.
Blue-collar, conservative, laid back. Guys help each other. No corporate BS. People talk politics, work on guns/cars, and actually enjoy coming to work.
Yes. If you want to build AR parts, machine something for your truck, or work on a personal project, Mark lets you use the machines on weekends.
If you're currently employed, Mark expects 2-3 weeks notice. If you're between jobs, you can start immediately after hire.

Apply Now

60-second application. We'll call within 24-48 hours.

Questions?

(540) 666-1879Info@TradesTalentSystems.com

Want a shop where people stay 30 years instead of 6 months?

Apply Now