Join Our Team as a Machine Center Lead

Are you a servant leader with a passion for machining excellence and team development? Garlock, a global leader in industrial technology solutions, is seeking a Machine Center Lead to guide our machining center operations. This is a unique opportunity to combine hands-on technical expertise with influential leadership—driving efficiency, safety, and innovation in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Do

As the Machine Center Lead, you will:

• Lead & Inspire: Model servant leadership, foster accountability, and support colleagues in their growth.
• Drive Operations: Plan and schedule assignments, coordinate workflow across shifts, and make real-time decisions to keep production on track.
• Champion Safety: Enforce plant safety rules, conduct audits, and ensure proper Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures are followed.
• Solve Problems: Troubleshoot machining/programming issues, diagnose tooling and equipment challenges, and implement improvements.
• Collaborate on Products: Partner with engineers to ensure new designs are manufacturable, support product testing, and evaluate returned seals for repair or modification.
• Innovate Processes: Identify new equipment, improve tooling, and refine processes for seal assembly and disassembly.

What You Bring

• 3+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing or related field.
• Strong technical proficiency in CNC machining, G-code programming, and tooling development.
• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve equipment, tooling, and product issues.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence across teams.
• A continuous improvement mindset and servant leadership style.
• High school diploma required; formal manufacturing training or equivalent experience preferred.

Why Garlock / Enpro?

At Garlock, you’ll be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusion. As a subsidiary of Enpro, we serve critical industries including aerospace, sustainable power generation, food and pharma, and more. We believe diversity drives innovation and inclusion fosters growth—creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

Ready to Lead, Innovate, and Make an Impact?

Apply today and help us shape the future of machining excellence at Garlock.

 

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary

The Machine Center Lead is a servant leader responsible for guiding the machining center team and operations. This role balances influential leadership with deep technical expertise in CNC machining, programming, tooling, and product manufacturability. The Lead ensures efficient use of equipment, labor, and materials to deliver products at the lowest cost consistent with required quality, safety, and on-time performance.

Essential Functions

        Leadership & Supervision

• Model the way as a servant leader, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Track daily attendance for KMS & Tool Room colleagues.
• Plan and schedule personnel assignments; coordinate workflow across shifts; make on-the-fly decisions to address production demands and issues.
• Assist in recruiting, training, and evaluating employees; set and monitor KPIs for machining center operations.
• Conduct on-the-job and cross-training for new and existing employees.
• Track e-time, points accumulation, and disciplinary status of machine cell employees.
• Support colleagues in self-direction and professional development initiatives.

 

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce plant safety rules and instruct personnel in safe working habits.
• Conduct EHS/Hazardous Waste audits, equipment preventive maintenance schedules (PMS), and new hire EHS training.
• Maintain proper Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures for all equipment and train colleagues as needed (KMS/Tool Room has 80+ LOTO documents).
• Investigate accidents and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Conduct regular safety cadence, inspections, and documentation.

 

Process & Technical Expertise

• Troubleshoot machining and programming issues, requiring proficiency in G-code programming and macro variables.
• Operate and train colleagues on CNC Mill/Lathe equipment.
• Diagnose tooling issues and implement improvements.
• Identify, recommend, and support acquisition of new equipment to meet production needs.
• Develop and improve tooling and processes for seal assembly and disassembly.
• Diagnose equipment issues and direct repairs as appropriate.

 

Product & Engineering Collaboration

• Partner with Mechanical Seal & BISO product engineers to ensure new designs/revisions are manufacturable before release.
• Support new product design and testing initiatives (e.g., Iso-Gard 2.0).
• Conduct engineering evaluations of returned seals; diagnose issues and make repairs/modifications.
• Make shop-floor decisions on modifications to new/existing products, requiring deep understanding of prints, fit, function, and intended use.
• Work with cross-functional teams (Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, Customer Service) to resolve and prevent production, delivery, and quality issues.

 

Competencies

• Servant leadership and team development.
• Advanced technical proficiency in CNC machining, G-code programming, macro variables, and tooling development.
• Strong diagnostic skills for equipment, tooling, and product issues.
• Business acumen with ability to balance cost, quality, and delivery requirements.
• Clear and professional communication skills, with ability to collaborate across functions.
• Continuous improvement mindset and problem-solving ability.

 

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; formal training in manufacturing or equivalent on-the-job experience preferred.
• 3+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing or related field.
• Experience in CNC machining leadership and/or CNC operations strongly preferred.
• Self-starter able to act and make decisions with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence across teams.

 Working Conditions

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery, tools, and production processes.

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Garlock is a subsidiary of Enpro, a leading industrial technology company focused on critical applications across many end-markets, including semiconductor, industrial process, commercial vehicle, sustainable power generation, aerospace, food and pharma, photonics and life sciences. 

At Enpro, we believe that diversity drives innovation and inclusion fosters growth. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Our employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military service, or any other status protected by applicable law.  If you require accommodation due to a disability at any time during the recruitment and/or assessment process, please contact Human Resources, and we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.  

Enpro Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. We will not sponsor employment visas now or in the future for this job. 

Enpro carefully considers a wide range of compensation factors including the background, education, training, and experience required, as well as geographic considerations such as cost of labor, and applicable local and state laws. These considerations can cause offered compensation to vary. The hiring range for this position is typically $63,000 - $108,000 annually. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. Bonus, gainshare, and/or equity may be eligible for this position. Enpro offers a range of benefits including, but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k) matching, and other supplemental insurance options.​ 

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