Lathe Operator

Job title

Lathe Machine Operator

Company

Soluroc Sudbury Inc.

Location

65 Nelson Rd, Lively (Greater Sudbury), ON — on site

Department

620 – Fabrication Shop

Reports to

Supervisor – Fab Shop

Employment type

Full-time, permanent

Schedule

Rotating between the site's two shifts; overtime as required

Pay range

$23.87–$30.09/hour, based on experience

The Lathe Machine Operator sets up and runs manual (engine) lathes to produce precision-turned components to drawing, tolerance and schedule. The role owns first-piece inspection, in-process quality checks and basic machine care, and works closely with production, quality and maintenance to keep the Sudbury shop running safely and on time.

Key responsibilities

• Read and interpret engineering drawings, work orders and GD&T to plan each job.
• Set up manual lathes: mount chucks, collets, faceplates and fixtures; select, grind and install tooling; set speeds and feeds.
• Perform turning, facing, boring, threading, grooving and parting operations on steel, stainless and other alloys.
• Complete first-piece and in-process inspection with micrometers, calipers, bore and thread gauges, and indicators; record results on inspection sheets.
• Identify, tag and report non-conforming parts; support root-cause and corrective action with Quality.
• Monitor tool wear and replace or regrind tools to maintain finish and dimensional accuracy.
• Carry out daily machine checks, lubrication and coolant top-ups; report defects to Maintenance.
• Log production counts, scrap and downtime accurately in the shop's tracking system.
• Keep the work area clean and organized (5S) and hand over job status at shift change.
• Train and support less experienced operators when assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Health & safety responsibilities

As a worker under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), the operator must:

• Follow Soluroc safe work procedures, machine guarding requirements and lockout/tagout (LOTO) before any setup, adjustment or maintenance.
• Wear required PPE at all times: safety glasses, CSA safety footwear, hearing protection; no gloves, loose clothing or jewelry near rotating equipment.
• Never bypass or remove guards, interlocks or e-stops.
• Report hazards, near misses, injuries and equipment defects to the supervisor immediately.
• Handle and lift material safely, using cranes, hoists or lift aids when required and only when trained.
• Participate in safety training, JHSC initiatives and workplace inspections.

Qualifications

Required

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years operating manual lathes in a manufacturing or machine shop setting.
• Able to read engineering drawings and hold tolerances of ±0.001" (±0.025 mm).
• Skilled with precision measuring tools and shop math (fractions, decimals, metric/imperial conversion).
• Able to work either shift and overtime as scheduled.

Preferred

• Experience turning hard or abrasion-resistant materials.
• Experience with large-swing or heavy-part lathe work.
• Experience using overhead cranes and hoists.

Competencies: attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, reliability, clear shift-to-shift communication, and a safety-first mindset.

Equivalent experience gained anywhere is considered; Canadian experience is not required.

Working conditions and physical demands

• Manufacturing shop floor with noise, coolant mist, metal chips and moving machinery.
• Standing and walking for most of an 8–10 hour shift.
• Frequent lifting of parts and tooling up to 23 kg (50 lb) unaided; heavier loads with hoists or lift aids.
• Repetitive hand and arm motion, bending and reaching; good near vision and hand-eye coordination for inspection.
• Rotating shifts and overtime, including occasional weekends during peak demand.

What we offer

• Competitive hourly wage
• Group health, dental and insurance benefits.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Paid on-the-job training.
• Stable, full-time work with a growing Canadian manufacturer.

Accommodation: Soluroc welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. Accommodation is available on request at every stage of recruitment under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Posting disclosures: This posting is for an existing vacancy. Artificial Intelligence is not used to screen, assess or select applicants. Soluroc will inform interviewed applicants of the outcome within 45 days of their last interview.