5-Axis CNC Mill / Gantry Mill Machinist

🔍 At a glance
Company: Confidential Employer (hiring through hireCNC)
Location: St. Louis, MO
Pay: $35-$50/hr DOE (top of the range for experienced gantry and large-part machinists)
Job Type: Full-time, direct hire
Shift: 1st shift (Mon-Fri, 7:00am-3:30pm) or 2nd shift (3:30pm-12:00am, 7% differential)
Experience: 3+ years of CNC mill machining
Machines: 3-axis and 5-axis CNC mills; 5-axis gantry and bridge mills

Why this job is worth considering

A growing precision manufacturer in St. Louis is hiring 10 machinists: five experienced 5-axis gantry mill machinists and five CNC mill machinists (3-axis and 5-axis). The work is complex, tight-tolerance aerospace and defense components, from smaller precision parts to large structural components.

These are hands-on setup and machining positions, not operator-only roles. Pay runs from $35 to $50 per hour depending on experience, with the top of the range for gantry and large-part machinists, and you can choose between 1st and 2nd shift with overtime available.

What you'll be doing

• Set up and run 3-axis and 5-axis CNC mills, with independent setups.
• Choose and manage tooling, fixtures, offsets and machine adjustments.
• Read blueprints, engineering drawings and GD&T to machine complex, tight-tolerance parts.
• Perform first-piece, in-process and final inspection with micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, indicators and other precision measuring tools.
• Troubleshoot machining, tooling and quality issues as they come up.
• Review CNC programs, verify toolpaths and make machine-level adjustments. Full offline programming is not required.
• Work independently and communicate with the programming and quality teams.
• Gantry mill machinists: align and fixture large, complex workpieces and hold tight tolerances on challenging setups.

Machines, controls and software

• 3-axis and 5-axis CNC mills
• 5-axis gantry mills, bridge mills or comparable large-format equipment (gantry roles)
• Precision measuring tools: micrometers, calipers, bore gauges and indicators

What we're looking for

Required

• Minimum 3 years of CNC mill machining experience.
• Experience setting up and operating 5-axis CNC mills.
• Ability to perform setups independently.
• Strong knowledge of tooling, fixtures, offsets and machine adjustments.
• Ability to read blueprints, engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Experience machining complex, tight-tolerance components.
• First-piece, in-process and final inspection experience.
• Proficiency with micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, indicators and other precision measuring tools.
• Ability to troubleshoot machining, tooling and quality issues.
• Ability to work independently and communicate with programming and quality teams.
• Must meet U.S. Person requirements under applicable export control regulations.

Additional requirements for gantry mill machinists

• Experience with 5-axis gantry mills, bridge mills or comparable large-format machining equipment.
• Experience aligning and fixturing large, complex workpieces.
• Ability to independently handle challenging setups and maintain tight tolerances.
• Experience reviewing CNC programs, verifying toolpaths and making machine-level adjustments.

Preferred

• Aerospace, defense or similar high-precision manufacturing experience.
• Complex, low-volume machining.
• Multi-axis machining and advanced setups.

Pay, benefits and schedule

• Pay: $35-$50 per hour DOE. Experienced gantry and large-part machinists (strong large-format, gantry or bridge mill experience) can earn up to $50 per hour. CNC mill machinists working primarily on smaller precision components can earn up to $40 per hour.
• 1st shift: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm
• 2nd shift: 3:30pm-12:00am, typically 8-hour shifts with a 30-minute lunch, plus a 7% shift differential
• Overtime available
• Medical: multiple plan options, including a $0 employee-premium option for individual coverage
• Dental and vision insurance
• PTO: 2 weeks standard, with additional PTO negotiable for experienced candidates
• 401(k): 50% match on the first 4% contributed, plus a dollar-for-dollar match on the 5th and 6th percent contributed
• Short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, and supplemental life insurance
• Career development and advancement opportunities

About this employer and how to apply

This is a growing precision manufacturing operation in St. Louis, MO that continues to invest in equipment and employees. It makes complex aerospace and defense components and is hiring direct. The employer has asked to stay confidential during the search, so it is hiring through hireCNC.

Ready to apply? Use the Apply button on this page. A hireCNC recruiter will follow up with you directly and share the company details once you have spoken.