Diamond Turning Machinist

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Location: Lexington, MA 02420
Job Type: Full Time
Shift: Standard hours; occasional overtime for critical program milestones
Experience: 8+ years in diamond turn machining
Machines: Diamond turning, precision CNC machining equipment
Software: CAM (Diffsys), SolidWorks, Microsoft Office

Why This Job Is Worth Considering

MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Fabrication Engineering Group fabricates high-complexity, sub-thousandth-accuracy optical and mechanical hardware for national security programs — work that routinely combines diamond turning with several other advanced manufacturing technologies to reach a single finished part. As a Diamond Turning Machinist, you'll own your assigned parts end to end: developing the fabrication approach, designing and building fixtures, programming CAM, and running the machine yourself. You'll work directly with program engineers on parts that are still being defined, and mentor junior machinists along the way. It's collaborative, technically demanding work in a group that fabricates aspheres, free-forms, and other precision optics most shops never touch.

What You'll Be Doing

• Machine high-precision optical and mechanical components via simultaneous diamond turning, including setup, CAM programming, and tooling selection
• Read and interpret optical drawings to plan the fabrication approach
• Collaborate with program engineers and other machinists to develop a holistic fabrication strategy for complex parts
• Mentor and instruct junior machinists
• Participate in manufacturability reviews and provide feedback
• Maintain a clean, organized work area and follow safety protocols

Machines, Controls and Software

Core work is on diamond turning equipment, with exposure to rotary B-axis, micro grinding and micro milling, and fast tool servo techniques a plus. CAM programming is done in Diffsys, with SolidWorks used for 3D CAD. Interferometer and profilometer experience is valued for verifying finished optical surfaces.

What We're Looking For

Required

• 8+ years of direct experience in simultaneous diamond turn machining, including setup, CAM programming, and tooling selection
• Competency reading optical drawings
• Demonstrated history mentoring and instructing junior machinists
• CAM programming experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Enthusiasm for learning new fabrication techniques, technologies, and machine tools
• Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with other Laboratory personnel to solve fabrication challenges
• Comfortable participating in manufacturability reviews
• Self-motivated, with excitement for R&D work supporting novel prototype development that demonstrates technology of national importance
• Maintains a clean, organized work area and follows safety protocols
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

Preferred

• Experience fabricating aspheres, free-forms, OAPs, elliptical mirrors, and lenslets
• Previous work in a high-mix, low-volume job shop environment
• Experience with SolidWorks CAD software
• Experience with Diffsys CAM software
• Experience with Nanotech 350FG, rotary B-axis, micro grinding and micro milling, or fast tool servo
• Experience with interferometer or profilometer measurement
• Prior experience machining germanium, aluminum, silicon, or nickel plating

Pay, Benefits and Schedule

Standard hours, with occasional overtime to meet critical program milestones.

About MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Apply

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded R&D center operated by MIT, based in Lexington, MA, developing advanced technology in support of national security. This search is being run by hireCNC's Retained Search team on behalf of MIT Lincoln Laboratory — apply through Quick Apply and your resume goes straight to the recruiters working this role.