Machinist/Fabrication Lead

Location: San Carlos, CA

We’re building Portals — custom-retrofitted communication pods designed for real-world deployment and shipping at production volume.

We’re looking for a CNC Machinist / Fabrication Lead to own our fabrication cell end-to-end. This role is responsible for programming, setup, machining, and maintaining the equipment used to produce precision enclosures and components machined primarily from aluminum and copper and bronze alloys that house screens, iPads, speakers, cameras, and integrated hardware systems.

This role spans subtractive and additive manufacturing — from CNC milling and laser cutting to metal 3D printing for prototyping and production components. You'll own the full fabrication workflow across all processes.

This is a hands-on production role, not a desk job. You will be running machines daily, improving processes, and ensuring consistent, high-quality output as we scale manufacturing.

If you take pride in holding tight tolerances run after run — and enjoy turning raw material into finished product — you’ll thrive here.

About your role at Ready ⚡️

• Program, set up, and operate CNC mills (Haas experience preferred) and laser cutting equipment

• Operate wire-laser directed energy deposition (DED) equipment for additive manufacturing of metal components including custom heat sinks and prototype parts

• Own fabrication workflows from raw stock to finished enclosure components

• Design and build fixtures to improve repeatability and throughput

• Optimize toolpaths, feeds, speeds, and setups for production efficiency

• Maintain machines, tooling, and fabrication equipment in working order

• Troubleshoot machining issues and resolve production bottlenecks

• Perform in-process inspection and ensure parts meet dimensional and cosmetic requirements

• Collaborate with engineering and assembly teams to improve manufacturability

• Maintain organized workspaces and uphold shop safety standards

• Support daily production targets (~2 units/day)

A bit about you 🥇

• Proven experience programming and operating CNC mills (Haas strongly preferred)

• Experience operating laser cutters or similar fabrication equipment

• Develop and refine additive-to-subtractive workflows — printing near-net-shape parts and finish machining to final tolerances

• Ability to independently manage setup, fixturing, and tooling decisions

• Strong understanding of machining fundamentals, tolerances, and material behavior

• Experience in a production or fabrication environment (not only prototyping)

• Mechanical intuition and strong troubleshooting skills

• High attention to detail and quality-first mindset

• Experience performing routine machine maintenance and diagnostics

• Experience with sheet metal fabrication or enclosure manufacturing

• Familiarity with Fusion 360, Mastercam, or similar CAM software

• Experience supporting low-volume production scaling

• Welding or general fabrication experience

• Experience working in a startup or fast-moving build environment

Physical Requirements & Work Environment 🏭

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Example:

• Ability to perform repetitive tasks involving hands, wrists, and arms for extended periods.

• Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods during a work shift (up to 8 hours).

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.

• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach as required to perform assembly and inspection tasks.

• Ability to use hand tools, power tools, and test equipment safely.

• Visual and auditory ability sufficient to inspect components, read instrumentation, and respond to alarms or verbal instructions.

• Work may involve exposure to noise, moving mechanical parts, electronics, and varying temperatures typical of a manufacturing or lab environment.

Ready is committed to providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws.

About Ready 🚀

• Creative problem solvers approaching a legacy industry with a new point of view

• Humble but a