What does an outside machinist do?
An outside machinist specializes in installing and repairing machinery and equipment in water vessels such as ships and submarines. They have a wide range of responsibilities, which typically include understanding blueprints and schematics, fixing and assembling parts, operating power tools, connecting pipe systems, conducting inspections, and providing support to staff as needed. They must also perform regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality and efficiency of machinery. Moreover, as an outside machinist, it is vital to maintain an active communication line with team members for a safe and efficient workflow.
Outside machinist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real outside machinist resumes:
- Manage other employees to ensure members' needs are met and operations run smoothly.
- Operate winches, hoists, indoor cranes, and hydraulic equipment.
- Machine types: Haas and Okuma ,
- Observe safety procedures and maintain safe work area in accordance with OSHA guidelines.
- Manufacture and repair shipyard equipment with hydraulic automatic saws, radial drills and surface grinders.
- Install and align condensers, compressors, pumps, force draft blowers, main feed pumps, and various valves.
- Utilize a variety of hand, pneumatic, power and precision measuring tools like micrometers, dial indicators, and calipers.
- Help to implement ISO standards.
- Rig equipment and materials to OSHA safety standards.
- Perform align bore of many GE force draft blowers.
- Serve as a liaison between shipyard employees and naval personnel.
- Remove various ventilation systems on board ship while analyzing dimensions from blueprint.
- Coordinate work while ensuring all aspects of quality assurance (QA).
- Operate and repair numerous types of fresh/feed water and lube oil pumps.
- Apply knowledge of mechanics, shop math calculations, dimensions, and tolerances.
Outside machinist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Outside Machinists are proficient in Hand Tools, Calipers, and Condensers. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Manual dexterity, and Math skills and computer application experience.
We break down the percentage of Outside Machinists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hand Tools, 15%
Use hoists, jacks, hand tools, power tools, squares, rulers, micrometers, and various electrical/electronic equipment.
- Calipers, 8%
Experienced in using calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, test equipment to include gauges, and high pressure equipment.
- Condensers, 6%
Assembled and aligned pumps, conveyors, elevators, cranes and condensers.
- Shipyard, 5%
Performed work on the Daniel Webster 626 submarine docked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard under Delphinus Engineering.
- Evaporators, 5%
Overhauled and repaired multiple fire pumps, Recirculation pumps, and evaporators.
- Ladders, 4%
Repaired and corrected defects on various accommodation ladders and rotating platforms.
Most outside machinists use their skills in "hand tools," "calipers," and "condensers" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential outside machinist responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for an outside machinist to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what outside machinists do because "machinists and tool and die makers must be able to interpret technical blueprints, models, and specifications so that they can craft precision tools and metal parts." Additionally, an outside machinist resume shows how outside machinists use analytical skills: "experienced in the handling of hazmat and use of a material safety data sheet. "
Manual dexterity. Another essential skill to perform outside machinist duties is manual dexterity. Outside machinists responsibilities require that "machinists’ and tool and die makers’ work demands accuracy, sometimes to within .0001 of an inch." Outside machinists also use manual dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized rigging, burning, hand tools, power tools, precision measuring tools and drawings or tech manuals. "
Mechanical skills. outside machinist responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "machinists and tool and die makers may operate milling machines, lathes, grinders, laser and water jetting machines, wire electrical discharge machines, and other machine tools." This resume example shows what outside machinists do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "worked on all mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems. "
Physical stamina. A commonly-found skill in outside machinist job descriptions, "physical stamina" is essential to what outside machinists do. Outside machinist responsibilities rely on this skill because "machinist and tool and die makers must stand for extended periods and perform repetitious movements." You can also see how outside machinist duties rely on physical stamina in this resume example: "maintained physical structures, using hand tools or power tools. "
Technical skills. While "technical skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to outside machinist responsibilities. Much of what an outside machinist does relies on this skill, seeing as "machinists and tool and die makers must understand metalworking processes." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of outside machinists: "calculated dimensions and tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers and vernier calipers to technical specifications. "
The three companies that hire the most outside machinists are:
- Huntington Ingalls Industries7 outside machinists jobs
- Epsilon Systems7 outside machinists jobs
- Tradesmen International5 outside machinists jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable outside machinist resume templates
Build a professional outside machinist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your outside machinist resume.
Compare different outside machinists
Outside machinist vs. Grinder
Depending on the industry, a grinder has a diverse range of duties. Typically, they oversee setting up and operating bearing grinders, cam grinders, and CNC lathes. A grinder must meet with the manufacturer's specifications by making use of shop drawings. Additionally, they may be tasked with repairing any mechanical breakdowns on the machines.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, outside machinist responsibilities require skills like "condensers," "shipyard," "evaporators," and "ladders." Meanwhile a typical grinder has skills in areas such as "grinding machines," "grinding wheels," "cnc," and "quality standards." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Grinders really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $40,459. Comparatively, outside machinists tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $43,016.grinders tend to reach similar levels of education than outside machinists. In fact, grinders are 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Outside machinist vs. Tool technician
Tool technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for repairing a variety of pneumatic and hand tools as well as disassemble defective electrical equipment in a manufacturing firm using these hand tools. These technicians are required to coordinate with other areas of the company to schedule and perform preventive maintenance duties. They must provide support for CNC operators by setting up the caliper and micrometer of all the CNC machines. Tool technicians must also assist coworkers in ordering materials and purchasing machine parts.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real outside machinist resumes. While outside machinist responsibilities can utilize skills like "condensers," "shipyard," "evaporators," and "ladders," tool technicians use skills like "first hand," "cnc," "micrometers," and "preventive maintenance."
On average, tool technicians earn a higher salary than outside machinists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, tool technicians earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $64,215. Whereas outside machinists have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $43,016.In general, tool technicians achieve similar levels of education than outside machinists. They're 0.5% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Outside machinist vs. Machinist/machine builder
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from outside machinist resumes include skills like "condensers," "shipyard," "evaporators," and "ladders," whereas a machinist/machine builder is more likely to list skills in "micrometers," "manual lathes," "cnc mill," and "haas. "
Machinist/machine builders typically earn similar educational levels compared to outside machinists. Specifically, they're 3.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Outside machinist vs. Machinist apprentice
Types of outside machinist
Updated January 8, 2025
