Manual Machinist
Air-Lake Machine & Manufacturing — Lakeville, MN Full-time
$35–$45/hr DOE
First Shift
The schedule:
- Monday–Thursday, 6:00 am–3:30 pm. Friday, 6:00 am–10:00 am.
- A long weekend every single week — it's just how we run.
What you'll be doing:
We're a custom precision job shop, and manual machining is a core part of what we do. You'll run a wide range of manual equipment on varied work — from repeat production runs to one-off repairs and custom builds — including:
- Manual lathes with chucks up to 32" and capacity up to 19 feet between centers.
- Bridgeport-style vertical mills and a bore mill.
- Horizontal mill.
- 100-ton hydraulic press for assembly, disassembly, and straightening.
- Supporting CNC operations with secondary manual work as needed.
A meaningful part of this role is mechanical repair work — disassembling gearboxes and other industrial assemblies, identifying worn or damaged components, machining replacement parts, and reassembling to spec. You'll also straighten shafts and structural parts, and use the hydraulic press to fit and remove bearings, bushings, and press-fit assemblies. If you have the mechanical instinct to look at a broken assembly and figure out what it needs, this work will suit you well.
You'll be reading blueprints, selecting feeds and speeds, and using your judgment to hold tolerances that matter. This is hands-on, skilled work that requires experience and mechanical aptitude in equal measure.
What we're looking for:
- 3+ years of manual machining experience — lathe and mill.
- Strong mechanical aptitude — comfortable disassembling, diagnosing, and reassembling industrial equipment and assemblies.
- Ability to set up and operate independently with minimal supervision.
- Comfortable reading mechanical drawings and tolerances.
- Experience with large-capacity turning (big bore, long bed) a significant plus.
- Experience with hydraulic press work, shaft straightening, or industrial repair a plus.
- Your own tools.
- Reliable, team-oriented, and takes pride in the work.
What we offer:
- Pay: $35–$45/hr depending on experience.
- Schedule: 4.5-day work week, every week.
- Quarterly bonus program.
- Health and dental insurance.
- 401(k).
- Air-conditioned shop.
- Family atmosphere in a growing company.
- Skilled, varied work — machining, repair, and mechanical problem-solving.
About Air-Lake Machine & Manufacturing:
We're a precision custom job shop in Lakeville serving industrial customers across the Upper Midwest. We do the work that requires real skill — complex repairs, custom builds, and close-tolerance machining in steel, stainless, and aluminum. Manual machining isn't a backup here; it's a valued part of how we deliver for our customers.
We're a growing shop looking for people who want to be part of something and stick around.
Air-Lake Machine & Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.