Precision CNC Programmer-Operator (Mills & Lathes)

Job Description

Job Description

What your day looks like

You arrive, open the work orders, and map out the day. You study blueprints, engineering plans, material specifications, orthographic drawings, reference planes, and locations of surfaces. With GD&T top of mind, you determine machining parameters and the best approach for each job.

Next, you program the mills by entering instructions, establishing zero and reference points, setting tool registers, dialing in offsets and compensation, applying conditional switches, and indicating vices. Before you commit to production, you verify every setup by measuring positions and checking the first-run part and sample workpieces against international standards.

On the floor, you oversee a range of operations—drilling, grooving, cutting—and you handle turning, facing, knurling, and thread chasing when required. You take precise measurements, watch for malfunctions, troubleshoot processes, and adjust or reprogram controls as needed. You sharpen or replace worn tools and follow quality assurance procedures and processes throughout.

Safety is constant: you adhere strictly to procedures and regulations. You also complete preventive maintenance to keep equipment in peak condition and ensure needed supplies are on hand.

As the shift progresses, you document production and quality logs. You communicate actions taken, irregularities discovered, and continuing needs to maintain continuity across shifts. Between jobs, you build your expertise through educational opportunities and by engaging with technical materials to solve problems.

Above all, you take ownership—embracing new and different requests and seeking opportunities to add value to every job and to the organization’s goals.

• Plan machining using work orders, blueprints, engineering plans, materials specs, orthographic drawings, reference planes, locations of surfaces, and GD&T.
• Program mills and enter instructions, including zero/reference points, tool registers, offsets, compensation, conditional switches, and indicating vices.
• Verify setups by measuring positions and inspecting first-run and sample parts to international standards.
• Maintain specifications during drilling, grooving, cutting, turning, facing, knurling, and thread chasing; troubleshoot, adjust, and reprogram as needed.
• Sharpen/replace tools and adhere to quality assurance procedures and processes.
• Follow all safety procedures and regulations; complete preventive maintenance.
• Document production and quality logs; communicate across shifts to ensure continuity.
• Advance skills through educational opportunities and technical learning.
• Own outcomes and seek ways to add value to job accomplishments.