Cnc Machinist Setup Operator Jobs in Riverside, CA

About A&B Aerospace
A&B Aerospace is a precision manufacturing company serving the aerospace, defense, and commercial industries. We are committed to quality, precision, innovation, and customer satisfaction and to building a workplace grounded in integrity, respect, and accountability.

CNC Programmer / Machinist

Position Summary

A&B Aerospace is seeking an experienced CNC Programmer/Machinist to support precision machining operations in our aerospace manufacturing environment at our Santa Ana location. This role develops, modifies, and optimizes CNC programs; supports machine setups and first-article production; troubleshoots machining issues; and ensures programs consistently produce parts that meet customer drawings, specifications, and quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities

CNC Programming, Setup & Machining

• Create, modify, and optimize CNC programs (Mastercam) and toolpaths from customer drawings, models, and specs.
• Program and support CNC machines, mills, lathes, and other multi-axis equipment.
• Plan machining sequences, select tooling/workholding/cutting parameters, and set work/tool offsets.
• Prove out new and revised programs (simulation, single-block operation, controlled first cycles) and support first-article inspection to verify parts meet requirements before release to production.
• Perform in-process inspections using calipers, micrometers, indicators, and height gauges.
• Diagnose and correct dimensional issues, surface finish problems, tool wear/breakage, chatter, workholding issues, and programming errors.
• Optimize existing programs for cycle time, tool life, setup time, and repeatability.

Production & Technical Support

• Provide hands-on programming support to machinists and production staff; work with Production and Quality to resolve machining and manufacturing issues.
• Review drawings and job requirements before releasing work; flag missing or unclear information before it affects production.
• Support new job introduction, first articles, and process improvements; communicate production risks, delays, and tooling needs.
• Own programming errors — contain affected work, correct the root cause, and help prevent recurrence.
• JobBOSS & Documentation
• Use JobBOSS to manage job information, routings, and work orders.
• Maintain organized program, setup, and tooling files with clear naming and revision control, ensuring programs match the correct part number/revision and obsolete files are never used in production.

Preferred Qualifications

• 6+ years of CNC programming and machining experience in precision manufacturing.
• Strong proficiency in Mastercam and ability to independently create machining strategies, not just run existing programs.
• Demonstrated experience programming and troubleshooting Swiss CNC machines, mills, lathes, or other multi-axis equipment.
• Solid understanding of G-code, tooling, workholding, offsets, feeds/speeds, and program prove-out.
• Ability to read complex engineering drawings, tolerances, and material/finish callouts; working knowledge of GD&T.
• Possession of personal machinist tools commonly used for setup, inspection, and precision machining is preferred but not required.
• Experience with first-article and in-process inspection using precision measuring tools.
• Strong attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, and communication skills; comfortable working cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Planning, and Operations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to safely work in and around CNC machining equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and perform shop-floor activities as required to support machine setup, prove-out, inspection, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to safely handle tooling, fixtures, materials, and components associated with the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to use required personal protective equipment (PPE)

Work Environment

This is a full-time, on-site position in a practical, fast paced aerospace manufacturing environment. The role combines computer-based programming and design with regular shop-floor work around CNC machinery and fabrication equipment.

The work environment may include exposure to manufacturing equipment, machinery, noise, moving materials, and other conditions typical of an aerospace production facility.

Equal Employment Opportunity
A&B Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, merit, and business needs and are made without discrimination based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. A&B Aerospace provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process may contact A&B Aerospace for assistance.