Machinist

HKA Enterprises is a multinational organization with over 40 years of experience delivering top-tier workforce solutions to leading industries worldwide. Our expertise spans contingent labor staffing, direct hire services, payroll management, and more, serving sectors including manufacturing, aerospace and defense, shipbuilding, and engineering.

Location:

Newport News, VA

Position Type:
Full-Time
Experience Level: Journeyman / Senior Machinist

Pay Rate:
Based on experience. Goes up to $37.50/hr. $120 per diem available for non-local candidates

Job Summary

We are seeking experienced Inside-Shop Machinists to support large-scale shipyard machining operations. This role requires hands‑on experience with large horizontal boring mills, vertical turning centers, gantry mills, and CNC lathes, including setup and machining of large weldments and castings on non‑fixed parts. Candidates must be safety‑focused, detail‑oriented, and capable of working from complex mechanical drawings.

Responsibilities

• 3+ years of experience as an Inside-Shop Machinist (shipyard or heavy industrial environment preferred)
• Strong commitment to safety and quality
• Ability to read and interpret complex blueprints and mechanical drawings
• Strong math and measurement skills
• Experience setting up and machining large weldments and castings without fixed tooling

Technical Skills & Experience

• Operation of manual and CNC/NC machinery, including
• Horizontal Boring Mills (HBMs)
• Vertical Turning Centers (VTCs)
• CNC Lathes
• Gantry Mills
• Experience with CNC controllers, including
• Fanuc
• Siemens
• Acramatic
• Giddings & Lewis
• Familiarity with
• Numerical Controlled processes
• Tooling offsets
• Conversational controllers
• Proficient with precision measuring instruments, including
• Depth micrometers
• Experience with
• Threading and gauging requirements
• Drilling and tapping processes
• Carbide machining processes

Large Machine Experience (Required)

• Horizontal Boring Mills
• Travel ranges up to X: 500”, Y: 250”, Z: 50”, W: 65”
• Rotary tables up to 10’ x 10’
• Load capacities up to 100 tons
• Vertical Turning Centers
• Tables up to 80” diameter
• Table capacities up to 20 tons
• X travel up to 160”
• Z travel up to 80”

Current Machine‑Specific Needs

• Giddings & Lewis HBM – PC-60
• Fanuc controller
• Need: 2 Machinists
• Giddings & Lewis HBM – PC-50
• Fanuc controller
• Need: 3 Machinists
• Schiess Froriep HBM – FB 225/200
• Need: 1 Machinist
• Giddings & Lewis HBM – 800 RFX
• Need: 1 Machinist
• Need: 1 Machinist
• PAMA Gantry Mill – Vertiram GT 4600
• Need: 2 Machinists
• Need: 1 Machinist
• Tacchi CNC Lathe – HD/3
• Swing over bed: 71”
• Used for large shaft machining
• Fanuc controller

Preferred Qualifications

• Shipyard or heavy industrial machining experience
• Experience machining large, one‑off or low‑volume components
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Referral bonus

Experience

• CNC: 3 years (Required)