PARADORN CNC Machinist - Mill or Lathe White Plains, MD · Full time Company website

Apply for CNC Machinist - Mill or Lathe

PARADORN, LLC is an engineer-led prototype and small batch manufacturing company based in White Plains, Maryland. We support defense, aerospace, and industrial customers with CNC milling and turning, Design for Manufacturing-collaboration, kitting, and clear project documentation.

What makes PARADORN stand out is our combination of engineering experience, hands-on manufacturing skill, and high standards for execution. We are a small team, which means every person has real impact. Our work is precise, practical, and mission-driven — helping customers move from concept to field-ready hardware with clear communication, reliable schedules, and quality parts.

Category:                Prototype Manufacturing Opportunity

Location:                 White Plains, Maryland

Type:                        Full-Time, On-Site

Pay Range:             $30 – $42 per hour, based on experience

Benefits:                  Available, more information below

Estimated Start Date Options:  

·     January, March, May, June or as negotiated during hiring.

*This application listing will remain open until the position is filled.

About the Opportunity

This position is for a machinist who already has a solid foundation and is ready for the next level. The right candidate will be comfortable reading drawings, setting up machines, CAM or G-Code programming, selecting tooling, setting offsets, inspecting their work, troubleshooting problems, and eventually owning jobs from setup through completed parts.

Our machinists work on prototype, small-batch, and initial-production hardware rather than simply loading and unloading high-volume production machines. You’ll work closely with engineering and manufacturing leadership on new and repeat jobs, with the opportunity to improve setups, tooling strategies, workholding, and processes as you gain familiarity with PARADORN’s equipment and customers.

Candidates may specialize primarily in CNC milling or CNC turning. We are interested in strong machinists in either discipline and will align responsibilities with the candidate’s strongest area.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set up and operate CNC milling or turning equipment to manufacture precision components from engineering drawings and models.
• Read and interpret drawings, dimensions, tolerances, GD&T, material requirements, and job documentation.
• Select and set cutting tools, workholding, offsets, speeds, feeds, and other machining parameters appropriate to the job.
• Create, edit, or support CNC programs and CAM toolpaths based on individual experience and machine assignment.
• Perform first-piece and in-process inspection using appropriate measuring equipment and document results as required.
• Monitor machining operations and adjust as necessary to maintain dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and process stability.
• Troubleshoot tooling, workholding, programming, dimensional, and process issues as they arise.
• Work with engineers and other machinists to improve manufacturability, setups, tooling strategies, and repeatability.
• Maintain organized tooling, machines, work areas, programs, and job documentation.
• Take increasing ownership of assigned machine capacity, active jobs, tooling needs, setup readiness, and production progress.
• Support prototype and development work where the manufacturing approach may need to evolve as the job progresses.
• Communicate problems early and participate in finding practical solutions rather than simply passing issues along.
• Support continuous improvement in setup methods, tooling, inspection, and shop organization.
• Help mentor junior team members and apprentices as PARADORN grows.

You May Be a Good Fit If You

• Take pride in making accurate parts and want to understand why a process works, not just follow instructions.
• Enjoy figuring out setups, tooling, workholding, and better ways to manufacture a part.
• Are comfortable working independently but know when to ask questions or pull in another teammate.
• Want more responsibility than simply operating a machine and are interested in eventually owning the day-to-day work on your equipment.
• Learn quickly, use available resources, and enjoy working in a small shop where your ideas and craftsmanship have a visible impact.
• Want to help build a high-standard American manufacturing company

Requirements

Formal machining school, certification, or a college degree is not required. Demonstrated skill, judgment, curiosity, and ability to produce quality work matter more to us than how you learned the trade.

• Approximately 2–5+ years of hands-on CNC machining experience, or equivalent demonstrated capability.
• Experience setting up and operating CNC mills or CNC lathes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, dimensions, tolerances, and basic GD&T.
• Experience using common precision measuring equipment such as micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gages, and similar inspection tools.
• Ability to independently perform routine machine setups, tool changes, offsets, and dimensional adjustments.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to safely work in a manufacturing environment and handle materials, tooling, fixtures, and equipment associated with the position.
• Must be able to work on-site in White Plains, Maryland
• Must be authorized to work in the United States
• Must be a U.S. Citizen where required by customer, contractual, or regulatory obligations
• Must be able to follow company policies related to confidentiality, controlled information, safety, and quality

Preferred Experiences

• Experience programming CNC equipment directly (G-Code) or through CAM software.
• Experience with Autodesk Fusion 360 CAM or Autodesk Inventor CAM.
• Experience machining aluminum, alloy steels, stainless steel, brass, or engineered plastics.
• Experience with prototype, R&D, aerospace, defense, or other low-volume precision manufacturing.
• Experience developing workholding, fixtures, or machining strategies for new parts.
• Familiarity with live-tool turning, multi-operation setups, or complex milling work.
• Experience inspecting parts with tighter tolerances and documenting inspection results.

What Success Looks Like:

Within the first 3-4 weeks, the machinist should be familiar enough with PARADORN’s machines, tooling, documentation, and quality expectations to begin running assigned work with limited supervision.

Success in this position is independently manufacturing released jobs through setup, machining, in-process inspection, and completed parts on their primary machine. The manufacturing team will support machine-specific questions and unfamiliar situations, but the machinist should already bring the core skills needed to make parts, troubleshoot routine issues, and keep work moving.

This Role is NOT:

• A machine-operator-only position. You will be expected to understand setups, tooling, drawings, inspection, and the manufacturing process—not simply load parts and press cycle start.
• A high-volume production role where every job is already fully developed. Much of our work involves prototypes, new setups, changing requirements, and figuring out how to make a part well for the first time.

Schedule, Pay & Benefits

This position is full-time and on-site in White Plains, MD.

• Medical and dental insurance
• 401K with company match
• Paid time off, sick leave, and paid holidays

Compensation range: $30 – $42 per hour, based on experience, skill level, and demonstrated capability.

Pay is based on experience and demonstrated capability, with compensation reviewed annually as part of PARADORN’s performance and growth process.

Overtime may be available or requested based on workload, schedule commitments, and business needs. Nonexempt employees are eligible for overtime in accordance with applicable law and company policy.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This position operates in a machine shop and prototype manufacturing environment. The employee may work around CNC machines, manual tools, inspection equipment, cutting tools, coolant, metal chips, raw materials, finished parts, computers, and shop documentation. The work environment may include moderate to high noise levels, moving equipment, sharp tooling, and exposure to normal manufacturing conditions.

Personal protective equipment may be required, including safety glasses, appropriate footwear, hearing protection, and other PPE as directed.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand and walk for extended periods; use hands and fingers to handle tools, parts, materials, and inspection equipment; reach, bend, lift, carry, push, pull, and position materials or workpieces; read drawings, screens, measuring tools, and detailed documentation; and lift up to 50 lbs. with or without reasonable accommodation.

Travel

Travel is not expected for this position, except for limited local travel that may occasionally be required for training, vendor coordination, customer support, or business needs. Overnight travel is not expected.

Hiring Process

Applications are reviewed on an on-going basis with decisions released on the third Thursday of each month. Qualified candidates may be invited to participate in an initial conversation, in-person interview, shop tour, and hands-on technical evaluation. The hands-on portion may include drawing review, measurement, setup discussion, tooling/process planning, and/or machine-related problem solving.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly. Applications are managed through Gusto so we can keep the hiring process organized and consistent. If you have any questions about the role or application process, please contact us at [email protected]