Senior CNC Programmer​/Machining Specialist

Position: Senior CNC Programmer / Machining Specialist (Progression Opportunity)
Senior CNC Programmer / Machining Specialist (Technical Lead Level Defence Sector) Bedfordshire | Permanent | £42,550 | 4 Day Week We are supporting a specialist defence engineering manufacturer in the search for a Senior CNC Programmer / Machining Specialist to join a precision machining facility delivering complex, low-volume components for secure programmes. This is a technical-first role with responsibility for supporting and guiding a small team within the machining cell.

It offers the opportunity to step into a recognised technical leadership position while remaining hands-on.

The Role You will:
Program, set and prove-out multi-axis CNC machines (36 axis) Lead on 5-axis milling strategies and optimisation Support daily coordination of machining activities within the cell Act as the go-to technical specialist for complex components Provide mentoring and guidance to other machinists and apprentices Contribute to workload prioritisation and cell performance Support continuous improvement and problem-solving initiatives Technical Environment Advanced multi-axis machining centres Strong bias toward 5-axis milling Fanuc and Heidenhain controls Complex one-off and R&D components Low-volume, high-value defence hardware

What Were Looking For Strong CNC milling background (5-axis preferred) Experience in complex one-off or precision machining Fanuc and/or Heidenhain programming Experience mentoring or supporting other machinists Background in defence, aerospace or advanced engineering Active SC clearance preferred candidates with recently lapsed SC may also be considered, subject to eligibility Must be eligible to obtain DV clearance Why Apply? 4 day working week (Mon Thurs) Long-term defence programme stability Opportunity to influence and support a specialist machining team Clear progression pathway into formal Team Lead responsibility Due to the nature of the work, strict security clearance eligibility criteria apply.