Engineer Machinist, Defense Contractor
An Engineer Machinist at a defense contractor supports the design, fabrication, and precision machining of critical defense components, manufacturing and modifying high-precision parts for military applications to strict quality standards. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does an Engineer Machinist at a defense contractor do?
A leading U.S. military defense contractor seeks a highly skilled Engineer Machinist to support the design, fabrication, and precision machining of critical defense components. The role manufactures, prototypes, and modifies high-precision parts for military applications, ensuring they meet strict quality and performance standards, and works closely with engineering teams, quality control specialists, and production personnel on mission-critical defense systems.
It is a precision-manufacturing role within the government and defense sector, in a secure, on-site environment subject to federal export-control law.
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is the U.S. regime controlling export of defense articles and technical data, administered by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. AS9100 is the aerospace quality standard, and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) defines engineering tolerances. Because the work is ITAR-controlled, U.S. citizenship and security clearance are genuine requirements.
What does the Engineer Machinist do day to day?
Key responsibilities of an Engineer Machinist
- Operate, program, and maintain CNC and manual machining equipment to manufacture precision components.
- Work from engineering blueprints, technical drawings, and CAD/CAM software to machine parts to exact specifications.
- Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to develop prototypes, modify existing parts, and improve machining processes.
- Ensure compliance with military and aerospace-grade quality standards, including AS9100 and ISO certifications.
- Conduct precision measurements and inspections using micrometers, calipers, CMMs, and other metrology tools to verify tolerances.
- Optimize machining processes by implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques.
- Troubleshoot and resolve manufacturing issues, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in production runs.
- Maintain documentation of machining processes, ensuring traceability and compliance with government and defense regulations.
- Adhere to strict security protocols and handling requirements for classified and sensitive materials, and participate in cross-functional research, development, and production teams.
What qualifications does the role require?
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience in precision machining.
- Five or more years of experience in a machining or manufacturing environment, preferably within the defense, aerospace, or military sectors.
- Proficiency in CNC programming (G-code, M-code) and CAD/CAM software such as MasterCAM, SolidWorks, or Siemens NX.
- Strong understanding of materials science, metallurgy, and machining best practices for military-grade components, with experience in GD&T and complex technical drawings.
- Knowledge of military and defense manufacturing standards, including ITAR compliance, and the ability to work in a high-security, classified environment.
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens and may be required to obtain a security clearance based on project assignments.
Why is the Engineer Machinist role important?
Defense systems depend on components machined to tolerances measured in thousandths of an inch, produced under aerospace quality standards and strict export controls. The Engineer Machinist turns engineering designs into the physical parts that mission-critical systems rely on, where a single out-of-tolerance part can compromise a whole assembly.
Because the role combines hands-on machining skill with compliance discipline, the strongest candidates pair deep CNC and metrology expertise with a clearable background and respect for ITAR and security protocols. That combination is rarer than either skill alone, which is what makes these searches demanding.
A hiring note from Excelon
Defense machining searches are constrained on two axes at once: the technical bar (CNC, CAD/CAM, GD&T, AS9100) is high, and the candidate must be a U.S. citizen who can hold a clearance. Through our government services practice, we focus on machinists who already work to ITAR and aerospace standards, since that pool is smaller than the open machining market and clearance-eligibility narrows it further.
A single out-of-tolerance part can compromise a whole assembly.
Related sample job descriptions
Engineer Machinist: frequently asked questions
What does an Engineer Machinist at a defense contractor do?
An Engineer Machinist operates, programs, and maintains CNC and manual machining equipment to manufacture precision defense components. The role works from blueprints and CAD/CAM software, ensures aerospace-grade quality, and supports prototyping for mission-critical systems.
What qualifications does the role require?
This sample role requires a bachelor’s in mechanical or manufacturing engineering (or equivalent machining experience) and five or more years in machining or manufacturing, preferably in defense or aerospace, with CNC programming and CAD/CAM proficiency.
What is ITAR compliance?
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is a U.S. regulatory regime controlling the export of defense-related articles and technical data. Defense machining roles require working within ITAR rules, which is why U.S. citizenship and security clearance are often required.
What are AS9100 and GD&T?
AS9100 is the aerospace quality management standard. GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) is a system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances. Both are core to precision defense and aerospace manufacturing.
Are U.S. citizenship and a security clearance required?
Yes. Because the work involves classified or ITAR-controlled defense materials, candidates must be U.S. citizens and may be required to obtain a security clearance based on project assignments. These are genuine requirements of the role, not employer preferences.
Hiring an Engineer Machinist?
Excelon Associates recruits precision machinists, manufacturing engineers, and cleared technical talent for defense contractors and aerospace manufacturers across the United States through our government services recruitment practice. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.