Senior CNC Technician

Role: Senior CNC Technician

Location: Oxford

Salary: Up to £41,000 depending on experience

Our client is looking for a skilled Senior CNC Technician to join a specialist mechanical workshop supporting advanced scientific research and development activities.

As Senior CNC Technician, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality engineering support across a wide range of activities. The position combines hands‑on machining, CNC programming, mechanical design support, equipment maintenance, and technical leadership.

You will be responsible for producing precision‑engineered components, advising mechanical design solutions, supporting workshop operations, and mentoring junior team members.

• Operate a full range of manual machine tools, including lathes, milling machines, drills, saws, grinders, and sheet metal equipment.
• Program, set up, and operate CNC machinery to manufacture high-precision components and complex assemblies.
• Manufacture, assemble, fit, and test bespoke mechanical equipment and instrumentation.
• Install, modify, maintain, and repair specialist equipment.
• Produce and interpret detailed engineering and mechanical drawings.
• Provide technical expertise and practical solutions to complex engineering challenges.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues and project stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.
• Train, mentor, and supervise junior technical staff, particularly in CNC machining and design practices.
• Maintain high standards of workshop safety, housekeeping, and compliance.
• Act as a key technical point of contact, communicating engineering concepts clearly to non-engineering stakeholders when required.

• Formal qualification in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g. City & Guilds, BTEC, HNC or equivalent).
• Completed recognised engineering apprenticeship.
• Significant experience in high-precision machining within a research, laboratory, scientific, aerospace, defence, medical device, or advanced manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience operating and programming CNC machine tools.
• Strong manual machining skills.
• Experience using CAD software to create and modify components and assemblies for manufacture.
• Ability to read, interpret, and produce detailed engineering drawings.
• Excellent problem-solving and fault-finding skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively.
• Experience training, mentoring, or supervising junior staff.