Sounds like my apprenticeship. Came up through small job, tool & die and mold making shops. Had to cobble together some pretty interesting fixtures etc on Bridgeport and devlieg mills....good times. Then I went to the big league aerospace job where it was all setup, prove the program and run....then I bid out of my machining job to learn the overhaul mechanic job because it was safer due to the outsourcing happening.