CNC Programmer/Fabricator

When you come to work at Van Horn Aviation, you join a tight-knit family of about 45 people who depend on each other to deliver high quality rotor blades and repair services for our customers. We work hard and expect everyone to be on time and on point in their work. But once in a while we take well-earned breaks with company BBQ's, happy hours and ice cream socials, plus one heck of a Christmas party at the end of the year. If you're comfortable around dogs and guns, you'll like working here. If you're not a fan of the American flag or the ideals it represents, we suggest you apply elsewhere. We try to take care of our people with 100% paid medical, dental and vision insurance premiums for you and your family, but it's up to you to use that insurance to keep yourself healthy. Whether that means getting COVID vaccinations or wearing a mask at work is up to you; we believe that's a personal choice and we'll respect your choice either way as long as you respect your coworkers' choices as well.

Work Description

As a CNC Programmer/Fabricator, you'll perform a wide range of functions in support of prototyping, test and production on 3- and 4-axis CNC mills and lathes plus Bridgeport manual/NC mills. You will write and test programs primarily in NX, identify the required tooling, set up the machine and prove out the program, and create the process documentation required for production. Occasionally you may need to update legacy programs in SolidCAM.

This is not a sit-in-your-office programming job. You will be out on the shop floor coordinating with manufacturing engineers and other machinists to determine what needs to be done to support various initiatives, and then figuring out the material, tooling and programming needed to get the job done. For prototype work, you may need to get your hands dirty with some manual machining, welding, grinding, sandblasting or other operations to fabricate a part, tooling or fixture. If you like to solve challenging machining, programming and fabricating problems every day, this is the place for you!

From our lead machinist: Here at VHA, we aren’t stuck on one machine all day. We are doing different operations throughout the day and have the opportunity to learn new things. We have great working conditions in a very clean, air conditioned shop. It’s a respectful, family-oriented company. Our machines are relatively new, nothing super old, and they all work. However, the company is growing so we have even newer machines on the way.

Experience Required

• Requires high school diploma or equivalent
• Completion of a vocational machining program highly preferred
• 7+ years CNC/manual machining experience in a production or prototype/R&D environment preferred
• 5 years of experience in the setup, operation and programming of CNC machining centers (HAAS preferred but not required)
• 2+ years of experience programming in NX, SolidCAM or MasterCAM
• 5 years of hands-on welding, metalworking, gunsmith, fabrication and/or mechanical repair experience (hobbyist experience okay)

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, test, prove out and document CNC machining programs to create prototype and production tooling, fixtures and parts
• Use CNC/manual machines and fabrication processes to create tooling and prototypes
• Perform routine maintenance on milling and turning equipment
• Keep a clean and orderly work environment
• Use precision measurement equipment and methods to inspect work in process and at completion
• Determine cutting or grinding tools to be used, method of holding, machine speeds and tool sheets
• Use effective time management skills to meet deadlines
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Highly motivated individual with effective team-oriented interpersonal skills including the willingness to work where needed to achieve team goals.
• Must be able to read and interpret technical publications, work orders, engineering documents and drawings.
• Must be able to rely on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish multiple production and prototyping goals.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision.
• Must be detail-oriented.
• Must have the ability to take verbal and written direction well.
• Must possess general knowledge of practices and procedures used to fabricate composite and metal bonded structures.
• Ability to use and strong knowledge of precision instruments such as calipers and micrometers.
• Ability to hold close tolerances and manufacture first run parts.
• Willingness to learn new processes and technologies related to the machining field.
• Experience with firearms manufacturing and repair very beneficial but not required.
• Must be capable of lifting a minimum of 50 pounds.
• Must be capable of performing moderate physical activities relative to machining such as walking, standing, reaching and stooping.
• Must read, write and speak English.
• Must be able to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8 AM – 5 PM.
• Must have a clean criminal record and two forms of ID showing eligibility to work in the United States.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug exam. This includes no medical marijuana or CBD/THC products.

Company Description
Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C. (VHA) is a privately-owned small business of fewer than 50 employees with corporate offices and production facilities located in Tempe, Arizona. VHA specializes in the design, testing, certification, and manufacture of composite rotor blades for various helicopters. VHA manufactures composite main rotor blades for the 206B JetRanger and 206L LongRanger, as well as tail rotor blades for the 206/OH-58 and UH-1 Huey series of aircraft. VHA engineers are also working on new main and tail rotor blade designs for other helicopters.

Van Horn Aviation is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions and future advancement opportunities at VHA will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities; and not on race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender (including gender expression and identity, pregnancy or related medical conditions and nursing mothers), sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition or information related thereto, marital or domestic partner status, veteran status, military caregiver status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Typical end time:

• 5PM

Typical start time:

• 8AM

Work Remotely

• No

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $28.00 - $32.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• Do you have CNC Programming experience? If so, in what language(s) [NX, MasterCAM, SolidCAM, etc.]

Experience:

• Machining: 7 years (Required)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Required)

Work Location: In person