Manufacturing Engineer — CNC & Automation

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer with a strong background in CNC programming, process development, and machining optimization to support the development and continuous improvement of advanced manufacturing processes.

The ideal candidate will have several years of hands-on CNC programming experience, preferably using Mastercam, along with a proven ability to develop, optimize, and troubleshoot machining processes. Experience with turnkey automation and machining systems is highly desirable.

This role is ideal for an engineer who understands machining from both an engineering and practical standpoint and can work directly with CNC equipment, programmers, machinists, automation technicians, and customers to develop reliable, efficient production processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, program, prove out, and optimize CNC machining processes for production applications.
• Create and modify CNC programs using Mastercam and other CAM software.
• Develop machining strategies, toolpaths, cutting parameters, tooling, workholding, and fixturing.
• Optimize existing processes to improve cycle time, throughput, tool life, quality, and overall equipment utilization.
• Develop and optimize turnkey machining and automation processes from initial concept through production.
• Support machine and process prove-outs, run-offs, installations, and customer acceptance.
• Troubleshoot machining issues including part quality, tool wear, chatter, dimensional variation, cycle time, chip control, and machine performance.
• Work closely with CNC programmers, machinists, controls engineers, automation technicians, and customers to resolve process challenges.
• Develop standardized processes and documentation for production and customer applications.
• Select appropriate cutting tools, workholding, fixtures, and machining strategies for new applications.
• Analyze production data and identify opportunities for process improvements and cost reduction.
• Support the integration of CNC machines with robotics, automation, material handling, and other manufacturing systems.
• Participate in machine and automation commissioning and production launch activities.
• Conduct process testing and document results, lessons learned, and recommended improvements.
• Assist with troubleshooting and optimization of CNC equipment in the field when required.
• Provide technical support during customer installations, production launches, and process development.
• Maintain awareness of current machining technologies, tooling, CAM strategies, and manufacturing best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on industry experience.
• Several years of professional CNC programming and machining experience.
• Strong understanding of CNC machining processes, including mills and/or lathes.
• Experience developing and optimizing CNC programs for production.
• Strong understanding of cutting tools, feeds and speeds, workholding, fixturing, and machining fundamentals.
• Ability to troubleshoot machining and process problems systematically.
• Experience working directly with CNC machines during programming, prove-out, and optimization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing documentation.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to work hands-on in a manufacturing environment and travel to customer sites as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Mastercam — programming, toolpath development, optimization, and post-processing.
• HAAS CNC machines
• Okuma CNC machines
• Fanuc controls
• Multi-axis machining
• 4- and 5-axis CNC machining
• CNC turning and milling
• High-speed machining
• Complex workholding and fixture design
• Robotic machine tending
• Automated material handling
• CNC machine integration
• Machine vision
• Process simulation and verification
• Tool management and tool-life optimization
• Production machining environments
• Turnkey automation projects

Turnkey Process Development

A major focus of this position will be the development and optimization of complete turnkey manufacturing processes.

The Manufacturing Engineer will be expected to understand the entire process—not just the CNC program—including:

• Part handling and material flow
• Machine selection and configuration
• CNC programming
• Tool selection and management
• Workholding and fixturing
• Robotics and machine tending
• Cycle-time optimization
• Chip and coolant management
• Part inspection and quality requirements
• Process reliability and repeatability
• Operator interaction
• Production throughput

The successful candidate will be able to identify bottlenecks and make practical improvements that result in a faster, more reliable, and more profitable manufacturing process.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who combines engineering knowledge with real-world machining experience.

The ideal candidate isn't someone who only creates programs at a desk. You should be comfortable standing at a machine, proving out a program, adjusting toolpaths, changing cutting parameters, diagnosing machining problems, and working directly with machinists and technicians to get a process running correctly.

You should be able to look at a machining process and ask:

Can we make it faster? Can we make it more reliable? Can we reduce tooling costs? Can we improve quality? Can we automate it?

A strong background with Mastercam, HAAS, Okuma, or similar CNC platforms is a major advantage.

Key Competencies

• CNC programming
• Mastercam
• Process development
• Machining optimization
• CNC milling and turning
• Toolpath optimization
• Feeds and speeds
• Cutting tool selection
• Workholding and fixturing
• Cycle-time reduction
• Process troubleshooting
• Turnkey manufacturing systems
• Robotics and automation
• Production launch
• Root-cause analysis
• Continuous improvement
• Customer technical support

Travel & Work Environment

This position will involve hands-on work in manufacturing environments and may require travel to customer facilities for process development, machine prove-outs, installations, commissioning, and production launches.

The candidate must be comfortable working around CNC machinery, automation equipment, tooling, cutting fluids, and other industrial equipment.

What We Offer

This is an opportunity to work on challenging CNC machining and automation projects from concept through production, with significant involvement in programming, process development, turnkey integration, and optimization.

The right candidate will have the opportunity to work with advanced CNC equipment, automation technologies, and a variety of manufacturing applications while directly impacting machine performance, production efficiency, and customer success.

If you are an experienced CNC programmer or manufacturing engineer who understands both the technical and practical side of machining—and enjoys making manufacturing processes faster, better, and more reliable—we want to talk with you.

You should be proficient in:

• GD&T
• Equipment Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting Skills
• CNC Programming
• G-Code
• M-Code

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• mastercam
• gibbscam