CAM Programmer​/Manufacturing Engineer

Senior Technical Role

Senior technical role focused on Siemens NX programming, 5-axis and mill-turn process development, NPI execution, and production-ready manufacturing strategy.

Smith & Company is a precision manufacturing company serving mission‑critical customers in the defense, aerospace, medical device, and advanced industrial markets. We are scaling capability, equipment, and engineering discipline to support complex, high‑consequence work. This is an immediate, on‑site hiring requirement in Birmingham, Alabama.

We run a new 35,000 square foot advanced manufacturing facility, with a 50,000 square foot expansion planned for 2027. The operation is built around modern multi‑axis and large‑format CNC machining, advanced CMM and laser inspection, and a controlled engineering environment.

This is not a maintenance‑mode shop. We are actively scaling process control, inspection capability, automation, and engineering discipline to support complex, mission‑critical work for defense and aerospace programs.

The CAM Programmer / Manufacturing Engineer develops, optimizes, and sustains manufacturing processes for complex precision‑machined components across defense, aerospace, medical device, and advanced industrial customers. The role owns CNC programming strategy, tooling and work holding concepts, setup documentation, process prove‑out, and NPI execution. It requires a hands‑on manufacturing mindset and the ability to turn customer models, drawings, specifications, and quality requirements into repeatable production processes.

• Develop CNC programs in Siemens NX CAM for complex 3-, 4-, 5-axis, simultaneous 5-axis, and mill‑turn applications.
• Own manufacturing process development from model and print review through production release.
• Build machining strategies that balance quality, safety, cycle time, tool life, and long‑term repeatability.
• Lead NPI activities including DFM review, manufacturing planning, tooling and work holding strategy, setup development, and first article execution.
• Translate engineering models, drawings, GD&T, specifications, and customer flow‑down requirements into executable manufacturing plans.
• Develop and maintain setup sheets, tooling lists, process notes, and shop‑floor instructions.
• Support fixture and work holding development using modular Lang and FCS systems, along with custom fixturing where required.
• Partner with machinists through prove‑out, first article, production release, and process troubleshooting.
• Support machining across aluminum, stainless steels, titanium, nickel alloys, Invar, 17‑4PH, 13‑8PH, and armor aluminum.
• Support APQP, AS9100, first article and delta FAI, engineering change implementation, and production readiness.
• Work with Quality to align inspection strategy, datum structure, and in‑process checks with the manufacturing process.
• Support customer and supplier technical communication on manufacturability, process questions, tooling, and special processes.
• Mentor machinists and junior programmers on machining strategy, NX standards, and process discipline.
• Drive continuous improvement in cycle time, setup time, tool life, and rework reduction.

• Minimum 10 years of CNC manufacturing experience.
• Minimum 5 years of CNC programming experience.
• Demonstrated CAM programming experience for complex 5-axis and simultaneous 5-axis machining centers and mill‑turn applications.
• Siemens NX CAM strongly preferred. Equivalent high‑end multi‑axis CAM experience will be considered, including Mastercam, hyperMILL, Esprit / Esprit EDGE, SolidCAM, Edgecam, Tebis, Power Mill, GibbsCAM, SprutCAM, WorkNC, CATIA NC / Delmia, Cimatron, or Fusion 360.
• Strong GD&T knowledge and the ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, model‑based definition (MBD), and customer flow‑down requirements.
• Ability to independently process a part from model and drawing through first article and production release.
• Strong working knowledge of cutting tools, tool holders, work holding, fixturing, probing, post‑processing, offsets, datum structure, cycle time, and process capability.
• Ability to maintain documentation…