CNC Operator Pathway to Design Engineer

About the role

This is a deliberate career pathway: you will spend your first 12–24 months on the manufacturing floor mastering CNC machining of solid wood—programming, setup, tooling, fixturing, and production of one-of-a-kind custom work. When you’ve achieved mastery, you will train your replacement and transition into a design engineering role. The pace depends on you; you report directly to the Director of Engineering, who will personally train you. Expectations are high and focused on your growth out of this role—we are hiring you for what you’ll become and expect you to work like it.

Responsibilities

• Operate, program, set up, and maintain CNC routers for solid-wood machining.
• Develop toolpaths, select tooling, and design fixtures for custom architectural millwork and specialty wood products.
• Read and interpret manufacturing drawings from day one.
• Perform heavy lifting (often 75+ lbs) and physically demanding tasks on the shop floor.
• Document processes and mentor the next hire as you prepare to move into design engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D parametric CAD from coursework, co-ops, or personal projects.
• Ability to read and interpret manufacturing drawings immediately.
• Hands-on disposition with a willingness to work on the shop floor.
• Physical capability for heavy lifting and sustained manual work.
• Curiosity and drive to master how things are actually made.

Qualifications

• Experience with Mastercam or other CAM/machining software.
• CNC machining experience—academic, co-op, or hobbyist.
• Personal projects demonstrating fabrication skills: woodworking, machining, 3D printing, restoration, etc.

What We Will Teach You

• Machining solid wood—materials with grain, movement, and character that differ from metal machining.
• Our CAM workflows, tooling strategies, fixturing techniques, and engineering systems.
• Manufacturing judgment that separates designers who merely draw parts from those who understand how parts are actually made.

Benefits

• Company-paid retirement contribution: Grothouse contributes 3% of gross earnings to your 401(k) each pay period, regardless of your own contributions.
• Employee, friends, and family discounts.

Pay

$26–$28/hour, with compensation growth tied to your progression toward the design engineering role.

Schedule

Full-time, Monday–Friday day shift with flex time from day one. You set a schedule that works for your life; adjust hours for appointments or personal commitments instead of using time off.