Senior Technical Center Service Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Technical Center Service Engineer

Position Summary

The Senior Technical Center Service Engineer is a full-time, onsite position which serves as the primary technical owner of all CNC machine tools, automation systems, and demonstration equipment within the facility.

This position is responsible for the installation, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, service upgrades, retrofits, modernization, and overall technical readiness of all CNC machine tools and automation systems located at the CTC. The Senior Technical Center Service Engineer ensures all equipment is maintained in peak operating condition and demonstration-ready status to support customer demonstrations, turnkey projects, engineering validation, customer test cuts, technical training, trade shows, and internal engineering initiatives.

This role serves as the primary technical liaison between the Chicago Technical Center, Product Support, Factory Engineering, Applications Engineering, Sales, and Service to ensure all equipment remains operational, reliable, and aligned with business objectives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Technical Center Operations

• Serve as the primary service and operations engineer for all CNC machine tools and automation systems located within the Chicago Technical Center.
• Own the overall technical readiness, maintenance strategy, and operational reliability of all CNC equipment located within the CTC.
• Maintain accountability for the condition, availability, and lifecycle of all CTC machine assets.
• Maintain all demonstration equipment in showroom-ready condition for customer demonstrations, engineering validation, sales activities, technical training, executive presentations, and marketing events.
• Ensure maximum machine uptime, reliability, and readiness for demonstrations, turnkey projects, customer test cuts, engineering validation, trade shows, and technical events.
• Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance schedules.
• Maintain accurate service documentation, maintenance records, equipment history, and machine readiness status.
• Manage critical spare parts inventory, service tooling, maintenance supplies, and calibration equipment.
• Assist with forecasting maintenance requirements, spare parts inventory, service tooling purchases, and capital equipment planning.
• Coordinate machine moves, rigging, utilities, contractors, and facility support activities.
• Support future Technical Center expansion, facility improvements, and equipment planning initiatives.

Machine Acceptance & Readiness

• Perform pre-delivery inspections (PDI) and machine acceptance evaluations upon arrival.
• Verify machine functionality, machine options, accessories, geometry, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate corrective actions with Product Support and Factory Engineering when deficiencies are identified.
• Prepare machines for customer demonstrations, engineering validation, production testing, and turnkey projects.

Machine Installation & Commissioning

• Install, level, anchor, commission, decommission, and relocate CNC machine tools and automation systems.
• Coordinate machine startup, acceptance testing, and final machine validation.
• Verify machine geometry, accuracy, and operational readiness before customer demonstrations, engineering validation, and production testing.
• Support factory engineering during new machine introductions and engineering change implementations.
• Coordinate electrical, air, coolant, network, and facility readiness for machine installations.

Machine Service & Troubleshooting

• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, lubrication, spindle, servo, and CNC control systems.
• Troubleshoot Fanuc and Siemens CNC controls.
• Perform advanced root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Read and interpret electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and PLC schematics.
• Maintain machine performance, repeatability, and operational reliability.

Machine Upgrades, Retrofits & Modernization

• Install factory-approved software updates, CNC control upgrades, and machine enhancement packages.
• Perform mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and CNC retrofit installations.
• Install and configure machine options including probing systems, tool setters, pallet changers, automation systems, bar feeders, mist collectors, chip conveyors, workholding systems, coolant systems, and additional machine accessories.
• Execute factory retrofit campaigns, engineering change orders (ECOs), service bulletins, and product improvement initiatives.
• Verify machine performance, calibration, and operational readiness following upgrades and retrofit installations.
• Coordinate with Product Support, Engineering, Applications Engineering, Factory Service, and equipment suppliers during retrofit planning and implementation.

Precision Verification & Machine Health

• Perform machine inspections, alignment, calibration, and preventive maintenance.
• Conduct laser calibration, ballbar analysis, and machine geometry verification.
• Verify spindle performance, machine accuracy, thermal stability, and repeatability.
• Monitor machine health and recommend corrective actions to maintain peak performance.
• Support machine acceptance and performance validation.

Applications Engineering & Turnkey Support

• Support Applications Engineering during customer demonstrations, machining trials, engineering validation, and customer events.
• Assist with turnkey projects, customer prove-outs, production process validation, and manufacturing demonstrations.
• Troubleshoot machining issues affecting customer test cuts and process performance.
• Support fixture development, probing systems, tooling integration, automation validation, and process optimization.
• Collaborate with Applications Engineering to ensure demonstration machines consistently produce high-quality machining results.

Trade Shows & Special Events

• Prepare, commission, maintain, and decommission equipment for IMTS, open houses, dealer events, customer demonstrations, and corporate events.
• Coordinate machine setup, transportation, teardown, and operational readiness.
• Provide onsite technical support during live machining demonstrations and customer events.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and maintain a safe working environment in accordance with company safety policies and OSHA requirements.
• Ensure machine safety systems, guarding, and interlocks are functioning properly.
• Support facility safety inspections and corrective actions.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, and operational standards.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify recurring equipment reliability issues and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Recommend improvements to machine reliability, maintainability, and serviceability.
• Collaborate with Factory Engineering on product improvements and future machine development.
• Develop service standards and best practices for current and future.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment availability, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall Technical Center performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of CNC machine tool service experience.
• Experience installing, commissioning, troubleshooting, repairing, upgrading, and retrofitting CNC machining centers, turning centers, mill-turn machines, and automation systems.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, lubrication, spindle, and servo systems.
• Experience with Fanuc and Siemens CNC controls (Mitsubishi experience preferred).
• Ability to read and interpret electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and PLC schematics.
• Experience with machine geometry, alignment, calibration, laser verification, and precision measurement.
• Strong root cause analysis and advanced troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent communication, organizational, leadership, and customer service skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and computerized service documentation.
• Valid driver's license and passport.
• Ability to travel approximately 10-15% as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a CNC Technical Center or showroom environment.
• Laser calibration and ballbar analysis.
• Renishaw, BLUM, and machine probing systems.
• Robotics, pallet automation, bar feeders, and machine automation integration.
• PLC diagnostics and electrical controls.
• Rigging and machine relocation coordination.
• Preventive and predictive maintenance program development.
• Industry 4.0, remote diagnostics, digital manufacturing, and machine connectivity technologies.
• Experience performing factory-authorized machine upgrades, retrofit programs, modernization projects, and engineering change implementations.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Demonstration equipment maintained in customer-ready condition at all times.
• Greater than 98% machine uptime and technical readiness throughout the Chicago Technical Center.
• Successful installation, commissioning, upgrades, retrofits, and modernization projects completed safely and on schedule.
• Minimal downtime during demonstrations, customer test cuts, turnkey projects, engineering validation, and trade shows.
• Rapid resolution of technical issues through effective troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Strong collaboration with Applications Engineering, Product Support, Sales, Factory Engineering, and Service.
• High customer satisfaction during installations, service activities, and technical support engagements.
• Continuous improvement of equipment reliability, operational efficiency, service quality, and overall Technical Center excellence.