Machine Shop Apprentice Jobs in Brookfield, IL (NOW HIRING)

CNC Machinist — Aerospace & Defense | 2nd Shift Premium Pay

$24.85–$36.15/hr + 10% Shift Differential + Hire-On Bonus | Day 1 Benefits | Weekly Pay

Elk Grove Village, IL | Full-Time | 2nd Shift

More pay. Less traffic. Better work.

Not everyone is built for 2nd shift — but for the right machinist it's the best deal in the building. You come in when the chaos dies down, you get more machine time, fewer interruptions, and a 10% differential on top of an already competitive hourly rate. If you're a CNC machinist who takes pride in the work and wants to be paid like it, Acme Industries wants to meet you.

We've been machining precision components since 1948 for aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation customers who cannot afford mistakes. We run castings and forgings — large, complex, tight-tolerance parts on FANUC-controlled CNC mills, boring machines, and turning centers. This is real machining, not a production grind.

2nd shift is open now. 1st shift openings are coming — if days are your preference, apply now and we'll keep you in the conversation.

What You'll Own

• Operate CNC milling, boring, and turning machines using FANUC controls — make offset adjustments, tooling changes, and light setups to keep parts running to print
• Machine castings and forgings into precision aerospace and defense components — close tolerances, high stakes, quality done right the first time
• Read and interpret blueprints, GD&T, and engineering drawings accurately and independently
• Perform in-process and final inspection using precision measurement tools — micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, dial indicators
• Verify conformance to customer and engineering requirements — you catch your own issues before they become problems
• Troubleshoot machining issues — tool wear, surface finish, out-of-tolerance conditions — and assist with process improvements
• Maintain a safe, organized, 5S work environment on your machine and your area

What We Need

Required:

• Strong blueprint reading and interpretation skills — you work from a print, not from memory
• Commitment to safety, quality, and attendance — these are non-negotiable at Acme
• Ability to lift and move materials up to 50 pounds
• Ability to communicate effectively in English

Strongly Preferred:

• 5+ years of CNC machining experience with FANUC controls — milling, boring, or turning
• Experience machining castings, forgings, and close-tolerance components
• Working knowledge of tooling, feeds, speeds, offsets, and machining best practices
• GD&T proficiency — you read it, you understand it, you work to it
• G-code and M-code familiarity
• Aerospace, defense, or heavy industrial precision manufacturing background
• AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality system experience
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving instincts — you fix it, you don't wait for someone else to

Why Acme

• $24.85–$36.15/hr — range reflects your actual experience level, not a starting floor everyone gets
• 10% shift differential on 2nd shift — a machinist at $30/hr base takes home the equivalent of $33/hr effective on 2nd
• Hire-on bonus — money in your pocket when you start
• Day 1 medical, dental, and vision — no 30- or 90-day wait, coverage starts your first day
• Weekly pay — not bi-weekly like most shops
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Gainsharing bonus — when Acme hits its numbers, you share in it
• Overtime opportunities — 2nd shift overtime adds up fast
• Tuition assistance — we invest in your growth
• Complex, interesting work — aerospace and defense components that matter, not the same part every day
• 75+ years of stability — founded in 1948, PE-backed, actively growing
• Clear career path — workforce development and apprenticeship program with room to grow into setup, lead, and training roles
• Clean, safe, modern facility — we take the shop environment seriously
• Food trucks, ice cream days, employee appreciation events — a shop culture that recognizes the people running the machines

About Acme Industries

Since 1948, Acme Industries has been a trusted precision manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation markets from our facility in Elk Grove Village, IL. We're ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified and we specialize in large, complex machined castings and forgings for customers who expect quality done right the first time. We're growing fast and building the team that will take us there.