CNC & Lab Operations Technician

Position Summary

PennEngineering is seeking a motivated individual to join the PEM Applications Engineering Team in NA as a CNC Lab Operations Technician. This dual-role position involves operating a single CNC machine and managing a small remote lab facility in San Jose, CA. The role requires a strong CNC background, willingness to learn lab equipment, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

What You Will Do

• Program, set up and operate a single CNC machine (Swiss Type Automatic CNC Lathe with sliding head stock and related automated tube and magazine bar feeders) with minimal supervision to produce superior quality product.
• Inspect product to ensure conformance using optical comparator, dial calipers, micrometers, thread gages, plug gages, etc.
• Standard and macro programming of machines using Fanuc, TB DECO, Partmaker and other software.
• Safely operate equipment including standard lathes, mills, grinders and saws.
• Read, understand and follow drawings, work instructions and procedures including identification and segregation of non-conforming items.
• Request and obtain tooling including using VMI system.
• Works closely with the local San Jose engineering team to understand test and sample requirements and deliver results as efficiently as possible; collaborates with remote departments including Engineering, Planning and Quality to meet expectations.
• Track all material and part movement into, through and out of the CNC cell and lab facility.
• Participates in team meetings and works well with team members.
• Proactively identify process bottlenecks, equipment issues, and quality concerns and resolves them independently without requiring formal assignment.
• Actively participates in continuous improvement activities including making suggestions to assist team in meeting goals related to quality, cost and delivery.
• Observes and helps define all safety regulations in the performance of all duties.
• Learns and operates lab equipment with proficiency; applies CNC problem-solving skills to lab instrumentation and processes.
• Function as a partner to build out and documents a formal CNC flow, incorporating best practices for sample handling, test sequencing, data collection and result reporting hand and hand with the engineering leadership/management team.
• Prioritizes and executes sample preparation and testing requests from the local engineering team with a focus on speed, accuracy and repeatability.

Other Duties

• Performs all assigned job duties with minimal supervision in their entirety with heavy emphasis on quality, accuracy, efficiency and timeliness.
• Employs cooperation, open-mindedness and creativity to handle challenging work assignments.
• Provides support to other areas including training as needed.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent with good skills in mathematics, trigonometry along with good written and verbal communication.
• Minimum of 5 years programming, set-up and operating Swiss Type CNC equipment.
• Good computer skills to utilize spreadsheets, email, and many software programs.
• Able to work well with a small local engineering team while also functioning effectively and independently with limited supervision.
• Read and understand procedures and work instructions.
• Demonstrated self-motivation with a proven track record of identifying and resolving process issues, equipment problems and inefficiencies independently without being prompted or formally assigned.
• Open and eager to learn new lab equipment and processes; prior lab or technical testing experience is a plus but not required.
• Comfortable with ambiguity; able to define role responsibilities through fact-finding and adapt as requirements evolve over time.