Machinist

Report to: Tool Room Supervisor and Designer

About Lee Valley:

Since 1978, Lee Valley has recognized that for many, woodworking and gardening are more than just hobbies. Lee Valley Tools enjoys a proud history of providing high-quality woodworking, gardening, hobby, hardware, gift and seasonal merchandise to customers worldwide. We pride ourselves on providing quality products and renowned customer service.

Lee Valley has been honored with many prestigious awards, including being recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2023 by Deloitte and one of Canada's Best Employers by Forbes in 2018. Additionally, we ranked #1 for In-Store Experience in Ontario by Leger Marketing Inc.

A position at Lee Valley is more than just a job – we honor the time and dedication that our people give by providing sustained and meaningful employment while striving to provide an environment where learning and development are encouraged.

Overview:

A machinist takes designs in the form of part and assembly drawings from the Tool designer and converts them into completed fixtures. The parts are made on manual and CNC mills, lathes and surface grinders as needed and then assembled into finished work-holding. The machinist maintains and repairs fixtures used by the production staff. They oversee maintaining their equipment so that it is safe to use and stays in good condition.

Hours of work: Monday to Friday 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Key Responsibilities:

• Track work through a ticketing system.
• Reliably read part and assembly drawings, Bill of Materials and instructions to make fixtures to spec.
• Manufacturing prototypes for a variety of products.
• Mill, turn and grind assorted materials (various steels, aluminum, plastics).
• Produce parts for mechanical equipment in emergencies.
• Inspect machined parts and fixtures to maintain quality control standards.
• Manufacture and maintain jigs and fixtures.
• Program, set & operate 3 axis CNC and Manual Machine Tools.
• Maintenance of Tool Room equipment.
• May assist in training production staff on proper use of fixtures.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Secondary school education, as well as a four-year apprenticeship, or a combination of more than four (4) years of experience and a college diploma in machining.
• Advanced experience in operating machine tools (manual and CNC)
• CAM (GibbsCAM considered an asset) and conversational programming knowledge and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret machine part drawings including GD&T.
• Understanding of Bill of Materials and assembly drawings.
• Knowledge of cutting strategies and parameters for a variety of steels and materials.
• Ability to plan and execute workflow for making complex parts and assemblies.
• Knowledge of heat treatment processes for tool steels.

Working Conditions:

• This work is conducted in a Machine shop environment
• Work involves occasional exposure to major disagreeable elements, low risk of injury/harm, more stringent safety measures may be needed
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand: use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

What we offer:

• A competitive compensation program, including base salary, comprehensive health and dental benefits, and a matching group retirement savings plan.
• Paid vacation and sick leave to support your well-being and work-life balance.
• A generous Lee Valley employee discount.
• A supportive, family-oriented environment that encourages learning, growth, and long-term development.

Hourly range: $29 - $31.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At Lee Valley, we are proud to celebrate and foster a diverse team of professionals. We take pride in nurturing an inclusive culture that empowers our people to be their authentic selves, celebrate their differences and love where they work. Our diverse community combined with our inclusive culture, is what sets us apart in the industry.

We encourage all candidates to apply for job opportunities with Lee Valley regardless of race, national origin, colour, religion, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital and family status, or disability.

Our Approach to Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

We believe that hiring decisions should be grounded in human judgment, thoughtful evaluation, and meaningful dialogue.

At Lee Valley, we do not use artificial intelligence tools to screen, rank, or make automated decisions about candidates. All applications are reviewed by members of our hiring team, and selection decisions are made through human assessment and professional judgment.

We are committed to a fair, transparent, and equitable recruitment process where candidates are evaluated based on their experience, skills, and potential — not by automated systems.

Accommodation Requests

If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.