Job Title: Grinding Machine Operator
Job Description
This role operates a variety of precision grinding machines to produce and finish metal components to extremely tight tolerances. You will work with small parts, perform repetitive production tasks, and ensure that every component meets strict quality and measurement standards in a clean, well-organized manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities
- Operate precision grinding machinery, including CNC, ID/OD, honing, lapping, and polishing equipment, to manufacture and finish metal components.
- Work with metal parts requiring extremely tight tolerances, including tolerances up to 50 millionths of an inch, while maintaining consistent quality.
- Handle small components and perform repetitive production tasks with a high level of accuracy, focus, and attention to detail.
- Inspect parts using no-go gauges, calipers, micrometers, and other precision measurement tools to verify that components meet all specifications.
- Perform basic mathematical calculations to support measurement, setup, and inspection activities, and accurately record production and inspection data.
- Follow established quality, safety, and production procedures to meet customer and manufacturing requirements.
- Maintain a safe and organized work area and work comfortably around legacy and older grinding machines and equipment.
- Monitor grinding equipment for proper operation and notify appropriate personnel of any issues that may affect quality or production.
- Support finishing operations such as honing, lapping, and polishing to achieve required surface finishes and dimensional accuracy.
- Contribute to consistent on-time delivery by maintaining productivity and adhering to production schedules.
Essential Skills
- Comfort working around older and legacy grinding machines and equipment.
- Ability to work with and handle small parts with precision and care.
- Comfort performing repetitive work and standing in one spot for extended periods while operating machines.
- No allergies to oils commonly used in grinding and honing processes.
- Ability to use or learn to use measurement tools such as no-go gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
- Basic understanding of numbers, measurements, and tolerances, including the ability to perform simple math calculations.
- Attention to detail and the ability to hold extremely close tolerances on a wide variety of part sizes and material types.
- Some prior machine experience in a production, assembly, or manufacturing environment.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions related to quality, safety, and production procedures.
- Reliability and consistency in following standardized processes and documenting inspection and production data.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Machine operating experience in a manufacturing or production setting.
- Prior manufacturing experience, especially in metalworking or precision machining environments.
- Experience with CNC machines or CNC grinding equipment.
- Experience with grinding, honing, lapping, polishing, finishing, or finishing machines.
- Familiarity with quality inspection, measuring, and documentation practices.
- Experience using gauges, calipers, micrometers, and other precision measuring instruments.
- Technical schooling or CNC-related education, such as machining or manufacturing technology programs, is a strong plus.
- Interest in expanding skills through additional machining or technical training opportunities.
- Experience working in industries such as aerospace, automotive, or military manufacturing is beneficial but not required.
Why Work Here?
You will join a long-established, family-owned job shop that values internal growth and promotes from within. The organization invests in its people by offering opportunities to expand skills, including paying for machining or technical schooling for team members who stay and grow with the company. You will work in a stable business with a strong reputation for quality and on-time delivery, supporting a diverse customer base across multiple industries. The culture emphasizes craftsmanship, reliability, and continuous improvement, creating an environment where dedicated employees can build a lasting career.
Work Environment
The work environment is a clean, well-lit, and temperature-controlled job shop focused on finish grinding and honing of machined surfaces to a wide range of customer specifications. The facility operates as a third-party grinding provider serving multiple industries, including aerospace, automotive, and military. You will work with a variety of CNC grinding machines from brands such as Cincinnati, Nipon, Okamoto, Okuma, Kellenberger, Toyoda, Studer, and Sunnen, as well as older legacy grinding equipment. The role involves working with small parts, holding extremely close tolerances, and spending much of the shift standing at a machine performing repetitive operations. Multiple first-shift schedules are available, with flexible start times between early morning and mid-morning. Comfortable, supportive footwear is important due to the amount of standing required. The environment emphasizes safety, precision, and adherence to quality standards while maintaining a steady production pace.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Arlington Heights, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $18.00 - $32.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Arlington Heights, IL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 4, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Arlington Heights,IL.
About Aerotek
Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.
Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.