Gwynedd Manufacturing, a growing defense contractor located in North Wales, PA, is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility dedicated to producing quality products for the U.S. Department of Defense and various U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. As an innovative company offering a wide array of products, we strive to continuously develop new technology and drive process improvement.
Position Summary
The CNC Programmer is the technical expert and process owner responsible for developing, implementing, improving, and sustaining CNC machining processes. This position creates and maintains CNC programs, develops setup documentation, establishes machining strategies, selects tooling and workholding solutions, and provides technical leadership across the machining department.
The CNC Programmer is expected to possess the skills and capabilities of a CNC Operator, CNC Technician, and CNC Setup Lead while serving as the highest-level machining resource for complex manufacturing challenges. This role works closely with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Maintenance to ensure safe, efficient, repeatable, and profitable machining processes.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Programming & Process Development
- Create, modify, verify, and maintain CNC programs for production machining operations.
- Develop machining strategies to optimize cycle time, quality, tool life, and machine utilization.
- Establish and maintain setup sheets, tooling lists, process documentation, and work instructions.
- Select cutting tools, fixturing, workholding, and machining methods to support production requirements.
- Verify program accuracy through simulation, prove-outs, and first-run validation.
- Maintain revision control and process documentation in accordance with company quality requirements.
Process Ownership
- Serve as the process owner for assigned machines, product families, or manufacturing cells.
- Develop standardized machining processes that ensure repeatable production results.
- Analyze production performance and implement improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
- Lead initiatives focused on cycle time reduction, setup reduction, quality improvement, and scrap reduction.
- Support new product introductions and transition products from development into production.
- Participate in manufacturability reviews and provide machining expertise during product development.
Technical Leadership
- Serve as the highest-level machining resource for Operators, Technicians, and Setup Leads.
- Provide training, coaching, and mentorship on machining theory, setup methods, tooling applications, troubleshooting, and best practices.
- Develop training materials and standardized processes to improve workforce capability.
- Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex machining, programming, tooling, and quality issues.
- Support first-piece approvals and complex setup activities as needed.
- Promote continuous improvement and technical excellence throughout the department.
Production Support
- Support machine setups, proving out new programs, and validating manufacturing processes.
- Review production performance and implement corrective actions when process issues arise.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Maintenance teams to resolve manufacturing challenges.
- Provide program edits and process improvements as needed to support production requirements.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum of 7 years of CNC machining experience.
- Minimum of 3 years of CNC programming experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in CNC programming and process development.
- Advanced blueprint reading and interpretation skills.
- Advanced understanding of GD&T.
- Strong understanding of tooling, fixturing, workholding, and machining principles.
- Ability to independently troubleshoot complex manufacturing issues.
- Proven leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Technical degree or certification in Manufacturing Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with CAD/CAM software.
- Multi-axis machining experience.
- Experience supporting multiple product lines and machine platforms.
- Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- CNC programming.
- CAM software proficiency.
- Advanced machining strategy development.
- Process development and optimization.
- Advanced GD&T interpretation and application.
- Tooling and fixture design concepts.
- Root cause analysis and problem solving.
- Manufacturing process validation.
- Cost and efficiency improvement.
- Technical training and employee development.
- Project management and process ownership.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Physical and Work Environment Requirements:
This position is based in a manufacturing environment and may require the following over extended periods of time up to a full 8-hour work shift (excluding lunch and breaks): stand, walk, sit, squat or bend, kneel and rise, lift, carry, push, or pull materials and equipment weighing up to - and occasionally exceeding - 50 pounds, view a computer or other digital screen, work on a computer, workstation or comparable system, and make accurate entries in such systems. Manual dexterity and fine motor skills are required for detailed assembly and precision work. Work may take place in areas with varying temperatures or no climate control, varying noise levels, and production equipment in motion. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn in designated areas at all times as required by company policy. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities but are always subject to safety concerns for the employee and all team members. Employer may require a physical assessment of the candidate’s ability to perform these tasks as a condition of an offer letter. Any assessment will be performed by a third party vendor and will be reported on a pass/fail basis with no other medical information conveyed to employer.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Gwynedd Manufacturing is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Note: This job description reflects general duties and responsibilities and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Management may modify or assign other responsibilities as needed.