CNC Applications Engineering Lead

Location: Cincinnati, OH |
Schedule: Full-time, on-site

An established manufacturer of CNC machining equipment is seeking an experienced CNC Applications Engineering Lead to serve as a senior technical resource and hands-on leader for its applications engineering team based in Cincinnati, OH. This role suits someone who enjoys staying close to the machines-developing processes, solving difficult machining challenges, supporting customer demonstrations, and helping bring new equipment successfully into production-while also taking on greater ownership of technical direction, project execution, and team development.

• Serve as a technical lead and senior resource for the CNC Applications Engineering team
• Mentor and develop Applications Engineers, sharing machining knowledge, troubleshooting techniques, programming strategies, and applications best practices
• Help coordinate team workload, priorities, customer projects, machine installations, demonstrations, training, and other applications activities
• Take the lead on complex or technically challenging applications projects, serving as an escalation point when additional expertise is needed
• Develop and optimize CNC machining processes, including programming strategy, tooling, work holding, feeds and speeds, cycle-time optimization, and overall process efficiency
• Support CNC machine installations, prove-outs, runoff activities, and customer acceptance as needed
• Partner with customers to evaluate parts, prints, tolerances, materials, production requirements, and manufacturing challenges to develop effective machining solutions
• Support Sales with technical expertise during customer evaluations, machine demonstrations, test cuts, benchmarking, and solution development
• Help evaluate machine configurations, tooling, work holding, automation, and peripheral equipment based on customer applications
• Deliver or oversee customer training related to machine operation, programming, machining processes, and applications best practices
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Service, Engineering, Product Management, and other internal teams to resolve technical issues and ensure successful customer outcomes
• Establish and improve applications engineering standards, processes, documentation, and workflows to create greater consistency across the team
• Identify opportunities to improve machine performance, cycle times, part quality, process reliability, and customer productivity
• Stay current on CNC technology, controls, tooling, CAM software, automation, and advanced machining strategies

• Strong hands-on experience with CNC metal-cutting equipment, including machining centers, lathes, and other advanced CNC platforms
• Prior experience in CNC Applications Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, CNC Programming, or a similar technical machining role
• Strong understanding of CNC programming, G-code, machining processes, tooling, work holding, speeds and feeds, and process optimization
• Experience developing machining processes from print or part requirements through successful production
• Working knowledge of multi-axis CNC machining; experience with 4-axis, 5-axis, Swiss, mill-turn, or other advanced platforms is highly valued
• Experience with at least one major CNC control platform is required, such as Fanuc, Siemens, Mazak, OSP, or Haas
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex machining, programming, tooling, work holding, and process-related challenges
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively with customers, Applications Engineers, Sales, Service, and leadership
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to help prioritize multiple applications projects and customer requirements
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, training, or providing technical leadership to other engineers, programmers, or machinists
• Experience with high-precision machining and complex part manufacturing
• Ability to travel regionally up to 25%

• Fanuc experience is preferred
• Experience with CAM software and offline CNC programming is strongly preferred

This is an opportunity to take greater ownership of technical direction, project execution, and team development while staying hands-on with complex machining challenges and customer-facing applications work.