CNC Machining Process Engineer

Location:

Sydney, Nova Scotia
Term:  Full-Time, Permanent
Anticipated

Start Date:

As soon as possible
Type:  In Office
Full transparency: we work a little differently around here.  This isn’t just another job where you punch in and punch out. We come to work every day because we strive to earn a living in a meaningful way. Too many people exist without finding joy or purpose in their work, and we believe that’s just wrong. After all, we spend at least a third of our lives working—so why not create workplaces where people want to come to work in the morning and feel good when they leave at the end of the day?
At Protocase, your ideas don’t just matter—they shape our future. We thrive on collaboration and innovation, where every voice is heard, valued, and makes a real impact. Does this sound like something you’d want to be a part of and help grow?
Protocase specializes in custom sheet metal enclosures, panels, and parts for engineers and innovators worldwide, built with unmatched speed and quality. We take the impossible and make it possible for some of the brightest minds on the planet.
Learn more about us here
About The Opportunity  This is not a traditional CNC machining position.
While you'll spend time operating CNC mills and machining parts, your primary responsibility will be to solve manufacturing problems, develop new machining processes, troubleshoot complex production challenges, and improve how we machine parts across the company.
You'll work on special projects, process development initiatives, tooling evaluations, and machining experiments that help us improve quality, reduce cycle times, increase throughput, and expand our manufacturing capabilities. If you're someone who enjoys figuring out why something isn't working, testing solutions, and turning discoveries into repeatable processes, this role was built for you.
What You’ll Do   Investigate root causes of machining challenges and develop solutions to improve tooling, fixturing, machine performance, quality, and cycle times
Investigate recurring production issues and implement practical, long-term corrective actions
Lead machining improvement projects from concept through implementation
Support production teams by providing technical expertise and resolving machining-related issues
Develop, test, and validate new machining methods for challenging or unique customer parts
Identify inefficiencies in machining processes and develop practical, scalable solutions
Design and execute machining experiments to evaluate tooling, strategies, programming approaches, and process improvements
Operate CNC mills (including 5-axis machines) to test and validate new ideas in a hands‑on environment
Analyze machining outcomes and production data to identify root causes and improvement opportunities
Develop and improve machining standards, best practices, and process guidelines used across the organization
Collaborate with machinists, programmers, engineers, and leadership to implement process improvements
Translate findings into clear, repeatable processes that improve quality, efficiency, and consistency
Balance precision, speed, manufacturability, and practicality when developing machining solutions
Document experiments, results, and learnings to build organizational knowledge and support continuous improvement
About You  This role is for you if you:
Love figuring out why machining problems occur
Enjoy process improvement more than repetitive production work
Like experimenting with tooling, feeds, speeds, and machining strategies
Get excited about reducing cycle times and improving quality
Want to influence how an entire manufacturing operation machines parts
This role is probably not for you if you are looking primarily for:
A production-only CNC operator role
Repetitive machining work with limited process development responsibilities
A position focused solely on running parts rather than improving processes
Education   Machining diploma, trade certification, engineering technology diploma, or equivalent hands‑on experience
Required Experience   3+ years of CNC machining experience
Strong experience troubleshooting machining processes and identifying root causes
Experience…