The Fabrication Specialist & Machinist performs a wide range of manual machining and fabrication activities to support manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering operations. This role designs, fabricates, repairs, modifies, and rebuilds custom machine parts and tooling using manual machine tools, welding equipment, and precision measuring instruments. The position requires strong problem-solving skills to evaluate equipment and process issues, develop practical machining and fabrication solutions, and support continuous improvement initiatives in a regulated manufacturing environment.

• Perform manual machining operations using manual lathes, milling machines, drill presses, grinders, saws, and related machine shop equipment to support production and maintenance needs.
• Design, fabricate, repair, modify, and rebuild machine parts, tooling, fixtures, brackets, guards, change parts, and other custom components using blueprints, drawings, sketches, samples, measurements, or verbal instructions.
• Evaluate equipment and process-related challenges presented by Maintenance, Production, and Engineering personnel and determine practical machining or fabrication solutions.
• Troubleshoot mechanical issues and support equipment repairs, modifications, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze damaged or worn components and reverse-engineer replacement parts when drawings or specifications are unavailable.
• Select appropriate materials, machining methods, tooling, tolerances, and fabrication techniques to produce functional and durable solutions.
• Operate precision measuring instruments, including calipers, micrometers, gauges, scales, indicators, and related inspection equipment, to verify dimensional accuracy of parts and assemblies.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Production, Quality, and management personnel to identify equipment improvement opportunities and support engineering projects.
• Recommend and assist with implementation of modifications that improve equipment reliability, safety, efficiency, and maintainability.
• Assist Engineering with equipment design concepts, manufacturing layouts, tooling design, and process improvements.
• Assist with installation, startup, modification, relocation, and validation support of manufacturing equipment as needed.
• Maintain machine shop tooling, spare parts inventory, materials, and equipment necessary to support site operations.
• Train Maintenance and Production employees on the safe use, maintenance, and cleaning of machine shop equipment and fabricated tools, as assigned.
• Maintain training records and required documentation in accordance with FDA, cGMP, standard operating procedures, and departmental requirements.
• Establish and maintain records demonstrating compliance with applicable FDA, cGMP, and internal company standards.
• Maintain the machine shop and work areas in compliance with 5S principles, safety requirements, and housekeeping expectations.
• Participate in required hazardous waste training and comply with hazardous waste management, handling, inspection, transfer, and spill response procedures.

• Advanced knowledge of manual machining principles and practices.
• Demonstrated proficiency operating manual lathes, milling machines, drill presses, grinders, saws, and related machine shop equipment.
• Strong manual fabrication and welding skills, including experience with TIG, MIG, and stick welding.
• Ability to fabricate, repair, modify, or reverse-engineer parts from drawings, samples, sketches, measurements, or verbal descriptions.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to diagnose equipment and component issues.
• Ability to independently evaluate problems and develop practical machining and fabrication solutions.
• Ability to determine appropriate materials, machining methods, tooling requirements, tolerances, and sequences of operation.
• Ability to read, interpret, and create blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, sketches, and fabrication documentation.
• Proficiency using precision measuring equipment such as calipers, micrometers, gauges, scales, indicators, and related inspection tools.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Maintenance, Production, Engineering, Quality, contractors, and vendors.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing requests.
• Basic computer proficiency, including use of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Accredited vocational, technical, apprenticeship, or trade school training in machining, fabrication, toolmaking, welding, or a related disc