Manufacturing Engineer

About the role

This role serves as a CNC Manufacturing Engineer and technical leader within a growing CNC machining operation. You will focus on manufacturing engineering, process development, and technology implementation rather than traditional standalone CNC programming. The position is newly created due to business growth and expanded manufacturing capabilities, offering the opportunity to modernize CNC programming and manufacturing processes, implement CAD/CAM technologies, support new product introductions, and drive continuous improvement across the CNC department.

The role is based within a CNC machining operation that is actively expanding its capabilities and modernizing its processes. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the production floor, especially during the initial months, working directly with CNC lathes, Swiss CNC machines, multi-axis equipment, and related tooling and fixtures. The environment emphasizes the use of CAD/CAM technologies and advanced machining methods, with a strong focus on precision components and tight tolerances. Collaboration is central to the work culture, with close interaction among machinists, operators, setup technicians, and engineering teams to drive continuous improvement and manufacturing optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the improvement of CNC machining processes to enhance quality, efficiency, and throughput.
• Evaluate, select, and help implement CAD/CAM technologies that support current and future CNC manufacturing needs.
• Provide CNC programming support in collaboration with programmers, operators, and setup technicians.
• Develop and refine manufacturing processes for existing and new CNC-machined components.
• Deliver hands-on shop floor support, working closely with machinists, operators, and setup technicians to resolve issues in real time.
• Drive process improvement and manufacturing optimization initiatives across the CNC department.
• Troubleshoot machining processes on the production floor, including addressing quality issues, cycle time challenges, and tooling problems.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) by developing robust, scalable CNC processes and ensuring smooth transition into production.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM) and effective use of CNC capabilities.
• Support precision machining of components with tight tolerances, ensuring processes consistently meet specifications.
• Work with operators and setup technicians to standardize best practices and embed industry-leading machining methods.
• Participate in manufacturing scale-up activities, ensuring processes are capable and stable as volumes increase.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives leveraging methodologies such as DOE, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma where applicable.
• In the first month, learn existing machining operations, understand current manufacturing processes, study the product portfolio and component types, and build rapport with the manufacturing team while spending significant time on the production floor.
• In the second month, evaluate existing CNC programming methods, assess CAD/CAM opportunities, and identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• In the third month, begin recommending improvements, build a CAD/CAM implementation roadmap, support process optimization initiatives, and establish technical credibility with operators and technicians.
• Act as a key contributor to the long-term growth and modernization of the machining organization by introducing industry best practices and emerging technologies.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in a CNC machining environment.
• Demonstrated manufacturing engineering experience supporting CNC machining operations.
• Strong CNC machining knowledge, with a strong preference for lathe experience.
• Hands-on experience with CAD/CAM software.
• Experience implementing or utilizing CAD/CAM systems within manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience in process improvement and manufacturing optimization.
• Experience troubleshooting machining processes directly on the production floor.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with machinists, operators, setup technicians, and engineering teams.
• Experience supporting precision-machined components with tight tolerances.
• Background in machining technology, ideally within sectors such as aerospace, defense, medical device, semiconductor, or precision machining manufacturing, with openness to industry transfers when strong machining expertise is present.

Skills

• Swiss CNC machining experience.
• Extensive lathe experience in a production environment.
• Multi-axis machining experience.
• Experience implementing CAM software, including rollout and adoption on the shop floor.
• Manufacturing scale-up experience, including transitioning from prototype to higher-volume production.
• Exposure to New Product Introduction (NPI) processes.
• Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DOE), Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Mill machining experience, particularly in environments planning future growth in milling capabilities.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year.

Benefits

• 401k
• Vision insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule

This is a permanent, fully onsite position based in Pottstown, PA.