Junior Swiss-Type Lathe Operator, Training Program

Ready to turn curiosity into capability?

Do you enjoy mechanical challenges, learning by doing, and making parts that meet exacting specs? At Autocam (NN, Inc.), you’ll join a global team of 3,200+ across 23 manufacturing locations, all focused on precision and innovation. Our Kentwood, MI Screw Machine Academy is your pathway into Swiss‑type machining.

Your mission

Start on days, then move to nights to support Tornos Swiss screw machines. You’ll help keep production flowing, protect quality, and grow from trainee to trusted operator.

What success looks like by Month 3

• Comfort identifying the main components of a Tornos screw machine and explaining how they interact.
• Confident using operator controls and performing basic maintenance tasks.
• Reliably preparing and restocking bar stock for uninterrupted runs.
• Diagnosing likely causes of quality defects and taking appropriate action.
• Executing tool changes and precise slide adjustments.
• Applying shaving, roller supports, and floating holders to improve outcomes.
• Maintaining collets and pushers; replacing cutoff tools at the right time.
• Adjusting pickoff and cutoff operations to spec.

Schedule

• Training phase: Day shift for 4–6 weeks with dedicated mentors.
• Regular shift: Nights, 8:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. (about 50 hours per week).

Must‑haves

• High school diploma or GED; machining‑related coursework/certifications are a plus.
• Passing score on an onsite mechanical aptitude test.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, excellent attention to detail, and a love of hands‑on learning.

Nice‑to‑have experiences

• Automotive Repair
• Brakes
• Oil Changes
• Tire Service
• Drywall Installation
• Manual Machining Skills
• High School / GED
• Shop Math Skills
• Experience in a Manufacturing Environment

For positions requiring access to technical data, NN, Inc. may have to obtain export licensing approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the U.S. Department of State - Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. As such, applicants for this position – except U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) – may have to go through an export licensing review process.

About the team

Autocam’s culture is hands‑on, mentor‑driven, and quality‑obsessed. If you’re ready to learn fast, work hard, and master Swiss‑type machining, we’re ready to invest in you.