CNC Machinist (Lathe Operator)

Why Us?

Fillauer is a global leader in orthotic and prosthetic innovation, empowering clinicians and patients to achieve their best functional outcomes. With manufacturing and R&D locations in Tennessee, Utah, and Sweden, Fillauer supports a strong upper limb product line, a robust offering of prosthetic feet, and a wide range of orthotic devices, tools, equipment, components, and materials. Founded over a century ago, Fillauer is dedicated to helping individuals with limb loss and limited mobility return to daily activities and achieve new heights. Today, we are in an exciting period of growth and investment. We have recently added state-of-the-art, high-efficiency CNC lathes and mills, providing machinists with modern, reliable equipment designed for precision, productivity, and repeatability. Recent shop upgrades have reduced set-up times and allow machinists to focus on quality work rather than working around outdated equipment.

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled CNC Machinist (Lathe Operator) to join our team at the Fillauer Chattanooga, TN facility. This role is responsible for setting up and operating conventional, special purpose, and CNC machines and machining centers to fabricate both metallic and non-metallic parts used across our product lines. The CNC Machinist ensures components are produced to precise specifications, meeting all quality, safety, and production standards. The ideal candidate has strong experience with CNC and manual lathes, a solid understanding of machining principles, and the ability to interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and work instructions.

Responsibilities

• Review and interpret blueprints, drawings, manuals, specifications, and sample parts to determine required dimensions, tolerances, sequence of operations, and machine setup requirements.
• Measure, mark, and scribe material to establish reference points and machining locations for accurate part fabrication.
• Select, align, and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, and materials on CNC and manual machines including lathes, mills, grinders, and other shop equipment.
• Set up and operate CNC lathes, including loading programs, selecting tooling, establishing offsets, and ensuring proper work holding for each job.
• Calculate and set machine controls to regulate machining factors such as spindle speed, feed rate, coolant flow, tool paths, cutting angles, and depth of cut.
• Start and monitor machine operations, observing machining performance to detect malfunctions, tool wear, or out-of-tolerance conditions, and adjust controls or tooling as needed.
• Inspect finished parts using precision measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges, indicators) to verify dimensional accuracy and compliance with specifications.
• Perform routine machine maintenance, including cleaning, lubrication, basic troubleshooting, and documenting any service or repair needs.
• Maintain accurate production and inspection records, ensuring traceability and compliance with internal quality requirements.
• Follow all safety procedures, wear appropriate PPE, and contribute to a clean, organized, and hazard-free work environment.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Production teams to resolve machining issues, support process improvements, and optimize machining efficiency.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent
• At least 2 years of experience as a CNC Machinist and lathe operator
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and the ability to effectively communicate with individuals or groups
• Ability to comprehend and communicate instructions and strong problem-solving capabilities
• Prefer experience in a medium-to-large machine shop setting

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time