Engineering Technician

Job Title: Engineering Technician (Toolmaker / Manual Machinist) Job Description This role offers an experienced, hands-on toolmaker and manual machinist the opportunity to build, modify, repair, and finish precision tooling, dies, machine components, and fabricated assemblies. You will focus on conventional machining, precision grinding, metal forming, repair work, fabrication, and assembly, while working with a high degree of independence. You will evaluate requirements, determine the best machining or repair approach, create or modify cutters and fixtures, and maintain tight tolerances from initial setup through final inspection. Responsibilities

- Set up and operate manual lathes, vertical and horizontal mills, drill presses, saws, and other conventional machine tools to produce precision components.
- Operate surface and cylindrical grinders to create flat, parallel, square, round, and finished surfaces while consistently holding specified dimensions and tolerances.
- Build, modify, maintain, and repair tooling, dies, fixtures, jigs, replacement parts, and production equipment components to support ongoing operations.
- Perform tool-and-die work for metal forming operations, including fitting, adjustment, troubleshooting, and repair of dies and related tooling.
- Plan work from engineering drawings, sketches, physical samples, and repair requirements, determining machining sequences, setups, stock allowances, tooling, and inspection methods.
- Select, grind, sharpen, dress, modify, or manufacture cutters and cutting tools required to complete specialized machining and grinding tasks.
- Develop practical solutions for one-off, damaged, worn, irregular, or difficult-to-hold components by designing and producing custom fixtures, adapters, spacers, and workholding aids.
- Fabricate, fit, and assemble machined and formed-metal components, supporting equipment builds, rebuilds, modifications, and repairs from start to finish.
- Use precision measuring equipment such as micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, height gauges, bore gauges, gauge blocks, surface plates, V-blocks, and angle plates to verify dimensions throughout the machining process.
- Inspect completed work for dimensional accuracy, fit, geometry, and surface finish, and identify and correct causes of variation before parts move to subsequent operations.
- Troubleshoot machining, grinding, tooling, die, fit-up, and assembly issues with minimal supervision, ensuring consistent quality and reliability.
- Perform routine operator-level maintenance, including cleaning, lubrication, grinding-wheel dressing, and care of machines, tooling, fixtures, and measuring equipment.
- Work safely around rotating machinery, grinding equipment, sharp tooling, metal chips, cutting fluids, and material-handling equipment, following established safety practices.

Essential Skills

- Proven experience as a hands-on toolmaker and manual machinist focused on precision tooling, dies, and machine components.
- Strong ability to set up and operate manual lathes, vertical and horizontal mills, drill presses, saws, and related conventional machine tools.
- Proficiency in operating surface and cylindrical grinders to achieve flat, parallel, square, round, and finely finished surfaces within tight tolerances.
- Demonstrated experience building, modifying, maintaining, and repairing tooling, dies, fixtures, jigs, replacement parts, and production equipment components.
- Hands-on tool-and-die experience supporting metal forming operations, including fitting, adjustment, troubleshooting, and die repair.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, sketches, physical samples, and repair requirements to plan work, machining sequences, setups, and inspection methods.
- Skill in selecting, grinding, sharpening, dressing, modifying, or making cutters and cutting tools for specialized work.
- Experience fabricating, fitting, and assembling machined and formed-metal components for equipment builds, rebuilds, modifications, and repairs.
- Proficiency with precision measuring equipment, including micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, height gauges, bore gauges, gauge blocks, surface plates, V-blocks, and angle plates.
- Strong troubleshooting skills for machining, grinding, tooling, die, fit-up, and assembly issues with minimal supervision.
- Commitment to safe work practices when working around rotating machinery, grinding equipment, sharp tooling, metal chips, cutting fluids, and material-handling equipment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Experience with CNC and manual operations, including CNC lathe work.
- Exposure to CNC programming for machining operations.
- Experience in tool and die work supporting precision metal forming processes.
- Experience with precision grinding and metal forming in a production or job-shop environment.
- Hands-on experience with fabrication, mold making, sheet metal work, and mechanical assembly.
- Ability to develop custom fixtures, adapters, spacers, and workholding aids for complex or irregular components.
- Strong problem-solving mindset and the ability to work independently from minimal supervision.

Work Environment You will work in a smaller, close-knit company environment that values collaboration, craftsmanship, and practical problem-solving. The role centers on a traditional machine shop setting with manual lathes, mills, drill presses, saws, surface and cylindrical grinders, and a variety of precision measuring tools. You will regularly work around rotating machinery, grinding equipment, sharp tooling, metal chips, cutting fluids, and material-handling equipment, following established safety practices. The atmosphere is hands-on and supportive, offering the opportunity to work on diverse projects and contribute directly to equipment builds, repairs, and improvements.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chaska, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/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 Contract to Hire position based out of Chaska, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 18, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Chaska,MN. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

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.