Machining and Technology Lead

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Full-time Regular St. Charles, MO, US

Patriot Machine is looking for a Machining Applications and Technology Lead to support cutter planning, machining process development, testing, and implementation of new manufacturing technology.

This role bridges NC Programming, Manufacturing Engineering, tooling, machining technology, and process development to reduce upfront engineering time, improve standardization, and increase first-run success.

This is a working lead position. The person in this role will provide technical direction to machining applications support staff while also developing cutter plans, supporting process decisions, leading trials, reviewing data, and helping implement new tooling and technology.

The right candidate should have strong knowledge of cutting tools, machining methods, cutter geometry, cutting conditions, process testing, and practical manufacturing application. This is not a full-time CNC programming role, but the candidate must understand CNC machining well enough to support programmers, manufacturing engineering, machinists, vendors, and leadership.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop and support cutter plans for all new jobs routed through NC Programming
• Assist Manufacturing Engineering and NC Programming during initial job planning to help define tooling approach, machining strategy, and process direction
• Provide technical direction to machining applications support staff and help coordinate their work
• Support NC programmers with cutter selection, holder selection, reach review, cutting parameters, and machining process decisions
• Review tooling approaches for 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis milling, including high-speed machining, thin-wall parts, large complex aerospace parts, and advanced hole making
• Use Siemens NX to review tool reach, clearance, and general usability of selected tools
• Analyze machine data, production results, tooling trial results, and process performance to support recommendations
• Lead tooling, process, and technology testing projects, including test plans, trial support, results tracking, and final recommendations
• Evaluate, recommend, and help implement cutting tools, advanced machining techniques, software, equipment, or technology that improves manufacturing capability
• Build technical justification and purchase proposals for new tooling, software, equipment, or technology
• Work with cutting tool vendors and internal teams to review new tooling options, support trials, compare results, and build internal recommendations
• Create cutter plans, process notes, lessons learned, training material, test summaries, and standard work documents
• Present tooling, process, testing, and technology recommendations to programmers, Manufacturing Engineering, shop leadership, and other internal teams

Role Focus:

This is an internal machining applications and technology role focused on cutter planning, process development, testing, and implementation of machining improvements that support NC Programming, Manufacturing Engineering, and the broader organization.

This role is not intended to be tool crib management, purchasing, vendor sales, quality, manufacturing engineering, or full-time CNC programming. The person in this role will work closely with those groups, but the main responsibility is improving how tooling decisions, machining strategies, testing, and process changes are developed, documented, and implemented across the organization.

This is a planning, process development, and implementation role with shop-floor involvement as needed to support trials, testing, troubleshooting, and feedback.

Technical and Process Knowledge:

Candidates should have strong knowledge in several of the following areas:

• Cutting tool selection, cutter geometry, and tooling application
• Speeds, feeds, cutting conditions, and machining strategy
• Tool holders, reach, stickout, rigidity, and clearance
• Holemaking applications, including drilling, reaming, countersinking, thread milling, and related aerospace machining requirements
• 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis milling concepts
• High-speed machining, thin-wall machining, and large complex machined components
• Aluminum and high-temp aerospace alloy machining concepts
• CNC machining process planning
• Reading and understanding drawings, models, and manufacturing requirements
• Machine data analysis, production result…