VTL Machinist

Join to apply for the VTL Machinist role at Karman Space & Defense

This range is provided by Karman Space & Defense. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$30.00/hr - $45.00/hr

We are seeking an experienced 5‑axis CNC Machinist for 2nd Shift at our South El Monte, CA location. The role requires operating the CNC machine efficiently, ensuring all material, tooling, cutters, NC programs, and equipment are ready for use. You will coordinate product flow with management to support customer demand, work with NC programmers to coordinate set‑ups and manufacture, and demonstrate how your work contributes to quality and safety in the QMS.

The CNC machinist must ensure product conformity through daily operations and safety contributions.

Karman is a market‑leading supplier of metallic and composite flight hardware and sub‑assemblies for the space, missile, and hypersonic markets. With headquarters in greater Los Angeles and locations in Southern California and Mukilteo, Washington, Karman offers an unprecedented capability set to customers, creating a supply‑chain solution in a historically fragmented base.

South El Monte, California

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Company‑Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement

• Maintain and realize AS 9100 procedures and continuous improvement efforts.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment.
• Keep the CNC clean and general maintenance up to date.
• Keep machine fixtures clean and stored properly.
• Work with management to prioritize the machine schedule.
• Work with programmers to minimize set‑up and manufacture time.
• Order cutters and tooling as required to support manufacturing.
• Operate the CNC.
• Report to management recommendations and/or concerns that will affect quality or time management.
• Understand how customer products are impacted in the event of failure.
• Perform any other duties as required.

• Detail oriented, extremely organized, with excellent communication skills and the ability to interact well with all levels of management.
• Experience with Siemens 840D and Fanuc 31i‑B5 controls.
• Excellent blueprint interpretation skills.
• Thorough understanding of machine set‑ups, tooling, and cutters.
• Direct communication with internal customers.
• Knowledge of applicable changes and customer requirements.
• Understanding of the QMS basic system of reporting, record‑keeping, and instruction compliance.

• High school graduate or equivalent work experience.
• Adequate years of operating CNC equipment as determined by Karman.

• Constant standing, walking, or sitting for at least 8 hours.
• Occasional pushing, pulling, lifting, or carrying up to 50 lbs, minimum 35 lbs.
• Sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment.
• Clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less; corrective lenses may be worn.
• Prolonged periods of repetitive movement.
• Constant holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand(s).
• Occasional extending of arms to reach overhead, at shoulder level, and below shoulder level.

• This position operates in a warehouse/shop/manufacturing environment.

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability, citizenship status, uniform service member status, or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.

Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.