CNC Machining Process Engineer

Position Information

Position Information

Position Title: CNC Machining Process Engineer

Department: Research & Development

Company: Protocase Inc.

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina

Work Arrangement: On‑site

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Shift: Day Shift

Level: Mid-Level (Expected

Experience:

3+ Years)

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:

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.

Working alongside machinists, programmers, engineers, and production leaders, you’ll have the opportunity to influence how machining is performed across our entire operation while helping shape the future of manufacturing at Protocase.

• 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, machining 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 lessons learned to strengthen organizational knowledge and support continuous improvement.

• Machining diploma, trade certification, Engineering Technology diploma, or equivalent hands‑on experience.

• Minimum 3 years of CNC machining experience.
• Strong experience troubleshooting machining processes and identifying root causes.
• Experience improving machining processes, tooling strategies, cycle times, quality, or productivity.
• Experience independently solving…