NC Programmer - Electron Beam Welding Operator

At Jefferson Lab, you’ll champion cutting-edge science and operational excellence while shaping the future of discovery. Join us and make your mark – where excellence meets purpose, and great minds truly matter.

About the role

This role trains under electron beam engineering support to develop the skills needed to independently operate an e-beam welding cell. You will translate engineering drawings, CAD models, and customer specifications into CNC/NC programs while designing fixtures, tool paths, and weld parameters for each job.

Responsibilities

• Program development & CAD/CAM translation — Converts engineering drawings, CAD, and customer specs into CNC/NC code for electron-beam welding cell, selecting appropriate tool paths, process parameters, and weld sequences for each job.
• Tooling and fixture planning — Participates in determining fixtures and workholding setups needed to run each program efficiently and safely.
• Vacuum system operation — Manages chamber pump-down cycles, monitors vacuum levels, and troubleshoots leaks or seal failures to maintain the environment required for a stable, contamination-free electron beam.
• Weld setup, fixturing — Positions/secures workpieces in vacuum chambers and fixtures, aligns parts to precise tolerances, configures beam parameters (voltage, current, focus, travel speed) to match material type, thickness, and joint design.
• Prototype & first-article verification — Works with engineering teams on design and fabrication strategy of prototypes, pre-production, and first articles in support of SRF operations at JLab and other nuclear research labs worldwide.
• Beam programming & process control — Sets or adjusts CNC-driven beam paths and oscillation patterns, performs test welds and beam calibration checks, and fine-tunes parameters to achieve proper penetration, fusion, and minimal distortion.
• Maintains weld logs and traceability documentation in compliance with customer, industry, and radiation safety standards.

Requirements

• 9 or more years of expert-level machinist and/or CNC programming background; welding experience desirable.
• High School Diploma or GED (education above the minimum may be substituted for experience).

Skills

• Experience with CAM software for generating and optimizing multi-axis toolpaths, including simultaneous 5-axis strategies.
• Machining experience across mill/lathe and mill/turn, including manual setup and the ability to run/troubleshoot programs at the machine level (highly desirable but not required).
• Ability to read complex part and assembly prints and translate tolerance requirements into programming strategy.
• Familiarity with CMM in-process inspection feedback loops for successful part and assembly production.
• Ability to design or specify fixturing that maintains part accessibility and rigidity across multi-axis toolpaths.

About Jefferson Lab

Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time. The Jefferson Lab campus is located in southeastern Virginia amidst a vibrant and growing technology community. A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job—you will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (Paid Parental, vacation, holidays, and sick leave)
• 401(k) Plan – 9% Lab Contribution; 100% vested
• Flexible Work Arrangements (Remote & Alternate Work Schedules available)
• Tuition Assistance, Training, and Professional Development Programs

Pay

The good-faith pay range for this role is $68,500.00 - $98,100.00 per year. Actual compensation may vary and may be above the posted range based on factors such as a candidate's skills, experience, education, certifications, and work location.