Process Development Engineer

About Wolfram Manufacturing

Wolfram Manufacturing is a precision CNC production shop and technology lab in Austin, TX. We specialize in medium-to-high volume metal parts, run advanced multi-axis equipment, and work with a small roster of demanding OEM customers. We take the work seriously, keep a tight team, and care about getting things right.

The Role

We are hiring a highly experienced Process Development Engineer to work directly alongside our Engineering Director. This hire is about capacity: more parts, more fun, more processes and opportunities to optimize and automate. Whether it is bringing a new part online for automated production, conducting design for manufacturing reviews with customers or doing triage on one of the unique ways manufacturing can surprise you – this is fun stuff.

This role is not in a vacuum – it is part of a team. You will work closely with our Production Engineering Manager, who owns scheduling, floor execution, and process data in OnTakt — our internal production platform. They aim the artillery and you bring it. This is a hands-on role, not just a desk job. Proving out a process improvement or brand new part is all yours. Something wrong with the machine and you know how to make it better – let’s do it. We are nerds and makers to the core. We love data and working through problems. This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative manufacturing processes primarily but not exclusively for CNC machines
• Program these manufacturing processes for our various CNC machines
• Prove out the processes on the CNC’s
• Help design and make fixtures, tools, and even new machines or automations as necessary
• Document CNC processes clearly in OnTakt — setup sheets, work instructions, and in-system process notes for excellent handoffs
• Support production operators with troubleshooting and slack support
• Maintain and improve the health and performance of these processes
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with the team
• Continually look for opportunities to improve the shop way of life – processes, programs, or otherwise
• Work closely with our Engineering Director to keep a reliable high standard of execution

Our Equipment

You will be programming for a mix of multi-axis turning centers, Swiss-type lathes, vertical machining, and EDM:

Machine Type Control Axes Control Okuma Multus B250 Multi-axis mill-turn 5 axis / 7 axis w/ sub Okuma OSP Okuma Multus B400 Multi-axis mill-turn 5 axis / 7 axis w/ sub Okuma OSP Tsugami TMA8F (×5) Multi-axis turning 5 axis / 7 axis w/ sub Fanuc Okuma LB3000 (×3) CNC turning 4 axis / 6 axis w/ sub Okuma OSP Tsugami S206 Swiss (×2) Swiss-type lathe 6-8 axis Fanuc Fanuc Robodrill (×1) Vertical machining 4 axis Fanuc Fanuc Robocut EDM (×2) Wire EDM 2 axis Fanuc Sodick EDM (×1) Wire/Sinker EDM 2 axis Sodick

Materials: hardened 4140, 416R stainless, polycarbonate, aluminum, tool steel, and other stainless alloys.

Requirements

• Multi-axis CNC programming experience — turning, milling, live tooling
• Experience programming for tight tolerances in hardened or stainless materials
• Proficiency in at least one professional CAM platform (Mastercam, Esprit, Hypermill, TopSolid, or equivalent — we use TopSolid and will provide training for the right candidate)
• Ability to read and program directly from engineering drawings
• Clear documentation habits — you write things down so others can follow them
• Self-directed work style — you can absorb direction, then execute independently
• US Person status - required for the nature of our work
• Ability to pass a Firearms Background Check (NICS) – required for the nature of our work

Qualifications

• Swiss-type lathe programming experience (strongly preferred)
• EDM programming (wire or sinker) (strongly preferred)
• Okuma OSP or Fanuc control familiarity (strongly preferred)
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, or a closely related field is a bonus, but a life well lived in this world carries equal weight

What Success Looks Like in Year One

• No machine crashes
• Trust of the Engineering Director is earned — you are driving process development independently with a high bar for quality
• Shop floor team can setup and operate your processes with the clear thoughtful documentation you put in OnTakt
• Healthy flow of constructive ideas and improvements established

Pay

Base salary: $115,000 – $125,000+ depending on experience.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Profit sharing
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Shoe reimbursement