CNC Programmer

Mazak Corporation is looking for a CNC programmer to join the FMF team. The CNC Programmer is accountable for developing safe, accurate, and production-ready machining processes that meet quality, delivery, and cost requirements. This role converts engineering drawings and solid models into complete CNC programs, tooling plans, setup instructions, and prove-out support. The programmer owns assigned work from initial review through stable production and is responsible for preventing programming-related defects, machine risk, and avoidable downtime.

Scope and Responsibilities

Essential duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• CNC Programming and Process Development: Create, revise, and optimize CNC programs from engineering drawings, solid models, and specifications. Determine machining sequence, tooling, workholding, speeds, feeds, and process requirements.
• Program Verification and Risk Control: Simulate and verify toolpaths, work offsets, clearances, and machine limits before release. Identify and eliminate collision, overtravel, part damage, and equipment risk.
• Setup Documentation and Shop Support: Prepare clear setup sheets, tooling lists, fixture instructions, and program notes. Work directly with machinists and operators during setup, prove-out, and production support.
• First-Piece Prove-Out and Production Release: Lead or support first-piece prove-out, make required program adjustments, confirm process stability, and release programs only after quality and production requirements are met.
• Quality and Technical Compliance: Interpret drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and inspection requirements. Coordinate with Quality and Engineering to resolve discrepancies and prevent nonconforming parts from moving downstream.
• Troubleshooting and Corrective Action: Diagnose dimensional variation, surface finish, chatter, tool-life, cycle-time, and program-related issues. Implement permanent corrective actions rather than temporary workarounds.
• Cycle Time, Tooling, and Cost Improvement: Improve machining efficiency through better toolpaths, cutting parameters, tool selection, setup methods, and process sequencing while protecting quality, tool life, and machine capability.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Quality, Tooling, Maintenance, and supervision to support manufacturability, schedule priorities, new work, and recurring production issues.
• Documentation and Revision Control: Maintain accurate program files, setup documents, revisions, tooling data, and standard work. Follow established naming, approval, backup, and change-control requirements.
• Safety, 6S, and Continuous Improvement: Follow all safety procedures, support organized work areas consistent with 6S principles, and participate in continuous-improvement activities that strengthen safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Education / Certification

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or technical certificate in CNC machining, manufacturing technology, or a related field preferred.

Skills

• 3 years experience with CNC programming
• Experience in operation and setup of CNC machines
• Proficient using Mastercam
• Mazatrol experience is preferred.
• Experience reading blue prints
• Experience understanding what the cutting conditions are and make the necessary adjustments to provide a part in the quickest / safest manner to meet production needs.
• Experience using various gaging instruments such as finger indicators, plunge indicators, calipers, micrometers, bore gages, ring gages, snap gages, tape measure and scales.
• Experience with fixture set up and work holding techniques.