Senior CNC Milling Programmer ​/ Manufacturing Lead

Senior CNC Milling Programmer / Manufacturing Lead

Established in 1965, Model craft Co. is an AS9100-certified CNC turning and milling production machining shop that manufactures precision-machined parts for the medical, aerospace, and commercial industries. Competitive hourly rate between $40-$55 (based on experience). Bonus program based on company performance. Benefits package including Health and Life insurance. 401K retirement plan with 4% company match. Small company environment so you can have a significant impact and real opportunities for growth.

True commitment to a positive work environment and employee satisfaction. 4/10 Schedule for three day weekends.

Model craft is looking for an experienced CNC Milling expert to help strengthen and scale our machining capabilities for the next decade. This role is ideal for a hands-on manufacturing professional who can program, set up, troubleshoot, and improve complex milling processes while helping train others and establish repeatable shop-floor standards. The right candidate will be highly skilled in precision CNC milling, comfortable working from complex prints and models, and capable of taking new parts from concept through production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set up, program, and operate CNC milling machines to produce complex, tight-tolerance parts.
• Develop and optimize CNC programs, tooling, fixtures, speeds, feeds, and machining strategies.
• Lead new product introduction by creating repeatable processes for new milled components.
• Interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, GD&T, tolerances, and inspection requirements.
• Inspect parts using precision measuring tools to ensure conformance to customer and print requirements.
• Troubleshoot machining, tooling, fixturing, tolerance, surface finish, and machine-related issues.
• Improve existing processes to reduce setup time, scrap, cycle time, and variation.
• Create and maintain setup sheets, tooling lists, inspection notes, and process documentation.
• Train and mentor machinists, operators, and setup personnel.
• Support a clean, safe, organized, and disciplined manufacturing environment.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong hands-on CNC milling experience, including setup, programming, operation, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to program at the machine and/or using CAM software.
• Experience machining complex, tight-tolerance parts.
• Strong blueprint reading, GD&T, and inspection skills.
• Solid understanding of tooling, work holding, speeds, feeds, and milling best practices.
• Ability to develop repeatable processes and document setups clearly.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with 4-axis and/or 5-axis CNC milling.
• Experience with CNC turning, lathe work, mill-turn, or multi-axis turning operations a plus.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, setup reduction, continuous improvement, or waste reduction.
• 5+ years of Mastercam experience strongly preferred.
• CAM software such as Fusion, Esprit, GibbsCAM, Siemens NX, or similar.
• Experience with probing, tool setters, macro programming, or in-machine inspection.
• Experience mentoring other machinists or helping build a stronger machining department.

The ideal candidate is more than a machinist. They are a technical problem solver who can make difficult parts, improve how those parts are made, and help Model craft build a more capable, efficient, and scalable CNC machining operation.