Prototype Machinist Full Time

Your Job

DarkVision, a Koch Engineered Solutions company, is looking for a talented Prototype Machinist to join our Skunkworks (R&D) team and work on the next generation of our state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging solutions.

This position will provide you with an opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and designers to innovate new technology/product ideas and concepts from scratch, starting with conception and ideation and ending with working prototype or proof-of-concept. Your main focus and challenge will be to enable their prototyping, design iterations, and testing by utilizing your expertise in precision machining to bring their designs to life, often working with no more than a 3D model and a conversation.

The ideal candidate is dependable and adaptable, has a get-it-done attitude where no work is above or beneath you, and has a passion for supporting others and working collaboratively in a close-knit team.

This position is full-time on-site at our HQ in North Vancouver, BC. It does not require a license or ticket. However, we are also unable to provide supervision by a licensed machinist.

Our Team

The Skunkworks team is a group of “mad scientists”. We take early ideas and concepts and answer questions like “could this work” and “how do we make this work” rather than designing and checking off boxes for mass production release.

We take a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in systems design, pulling in expertise from mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. We are keen on trying new, non-conventional methods for experimenting and likes to scrutinize the method used to ensure results and assumptions are valid.

What You Will Do

Run and maintain Darkvision’s machine shop

• Program, operate, and maintain a variety of CNC machines and equipment: Haas ST-30Y live tooling lathe, Haas VF-4SS, Hydmech S20, FlexArm Pneumatic Tapping Arm.
• Take ownership of machine shop organization – run this like your own shop inside DarkVision. Keep it clean and well organized. Knock heads if you need to.
• Stock tooling, workholding, and material to quickly respond to new projects.
• Maintain machines and avoid productivity loss from poor upkeep.

Remove friction and obstacles to enable fast iteration

• Provide a rapid path for designers to prototype, modify parts, and experiment.
• Take on a variety of unique programming/machining challenges; take nothing but a 3D model and a conversation to create a part.
• Teach others how to use machines safely and effectively so they can create parts when appropriate.

Work closely with designers to improve designs

• Provide feedback on design machinability/manufacturability.
• Help improve designs before they go out the door.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Experience operating CNC and manual machines.
• Experience with CAM software for milling and turning.
• Note: This is a research and development prototyping role. Therefore, the emphasis is on aptitudes and attitudes rather than experience. If you can learn quickly, be creative, find clever ways to solve problems, and be a collaborative member of the team, then only limited experience is required!

What Will Put You Ahead

• Live tooling lathes/4th axis CNC mill experience.
• Autodesk Fusion CAM/HSM works or Open Mind hyperMILL.
• Experience running Haas and Tormach CNC machines.
• Prior experience in design or fabrication of tooling or fixtures.
• QC experience/knowledge of GD&T.
• Tight tolerance machining and QC (+-.001″).
• Desire to collaborate, with an active pursuit of new ideas, perspectives, and ways of getting the job done.
• Customer and solutions focused.
• Strong communication skills and fluent in both oral and written English.
• High level of safety awareness and orientation.
• Eager to learn and continually develop your skills.

General Salary Range

For this role, we anticipate paying $60,000 to $80,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Who We Are

DarkVision Technologies Inc. is a Canada-based tech company disrupting the industrial imaging market since 2013. We have created the world’s most advanced acoustic-based imaging platform. We are packaging it into multiple new product lines, revolutionizing how our clients quantify and visualize the integrity of their critical assets.

Backed by Koch Industries, one of the world’s largest privately held companies, DarkVision’s team of Mechanical, Skunkworks, Electrical, Software, and Machine Learning Engineers is rapidly expanding to meet the demand for the company’s current and upcoming products.

We allow employees to work on cutting-edge technologies that blend science with real-world applications. We invite you to join our team for the exciting journey ahead as we become the global leader in industrial imaging.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

How to Apply

If you have the above qualifications, we would like to hear from you. We thank all applicants in advance, but please be advised that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are an equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation or assistance at any time during the application or selection processes, please submit a request by following the directions located in the FAQ section at the bottom of the kochcareers.com webpage.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a criminal background check.

Keywords: CNC, mill, milling, turning, lathe, machining, machinist, machine shop, prototype, prototyping, fabrication, R&D, tight tolerance, GD&T, tooling, fixtures, CAD, CAM

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This position is eligible for Canadians of all ages