CNC Programming Engineer

Location Profile:

Aerospace Dynamics International, Inc. (ADI) manufactures machined parts and assemblies for the commercial and military aerospace industries. It offers structural components, caps, panels, bulkheads, fittings, longerons, spars, chords, wing ribs, thrust reversers, structural machine parts, manufacturing tooling and stretch form blocks.

ADI was acquired by PCC in April 2014. The company has received significant capital investments since the acquisition and has a highly positive growth trajectory ahead. Comprising seven facilities on its campus in Valencia, CA, ADI has over 240 full-time employees on staff.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a skilled and hands-on CNC Programming Engineer to develop, optimize, and support CNC machining processes for large, complex aerospace structural components. This position is responsible for developing, proving, optimizing, and maintaining CNC manufacturing processes for large-scale aerostructure components produced on multi-axis, multi-spindle, open-bed gantry machining centers. This position will bridge engineering and manufacturing by translating engineering designs into safe, repeatable, and efficient machining processes.

The CNC Programming Engineer will be responsible for CNC program development, CAM programming, tooling and workholding selection, machining strategy, process documentation, first-article/prove-out support, and continuous improvement of existing manufacturing processes.

The ideal candidate combines advanced CNC programming expertise with a strong understanding of the unique challenges associated with large aerospace structures, including long machining cycles, multiple-spindle operations, large work envelopes, thin-wall structures, part movement, material removal strategy, tolerance management, and the machining of large monolithic components.

This is a hands-on engineering position requiring close collaboration with machinists, manufacturing engineering, quality, tooling, maintenance, and design engineering.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain CNC programs for production of large structure aerospace components.
• Create CAM programs, toolpaths, setup documentation, and supporting manufacturing instructions from engineering drawings and 3D CAD models.
• Develop robust machining processes for large aluminum and other aerospace structural components, including monolithic structures, frames, bulkheads, spars, ribs, skins, panels, and similar aerostructure components.
• Determine optimum machining strategies, cutting tools, speeds and feeds, workholding methods, and operation sequences.
• Evaluate datum strategies, machining sequence, part orientation, intermediate inspection requirements, and material condition when developing manufacturing processes.
• Support CNC program prove-outs and first-piece machining directly on the manufacturing floor.
• Troubleshoot machining issues related to tooling, toolpaths, workholding, part geometry, machine capability, surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and cycle time.
• Optimize existing CNC programs to improve cycle time, tool life, process capability, quality, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
• Design or support the development of machining fixtures, workholding, soft jaws, and other manufacturing aids.
• Identify opportunities to reduce setups, machining operations, tooling costs, scrap, and operator intervention.
• Develop and maintain standardized setup sheets, tooling lists, CNC documentation, and revision-controlled manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with machinists during new-product introduction, process development, and production troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with Quality Engineering to resolve dimensional and process-related issues.
• Support root-cause investigations and corrective actions associated with machining processes.
• Evaluate new cutting tools, machining technologies, equipment, and manufacturing methods.
• Establish machining best practices and help standardize CNC programming methods across the manufacturing organization.
• Provide technical mentoring and support to CNC machinists and other manufacturing personnel.
• Ensure machining processes comply with applicable safety, quality, and engineering requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of CNC programming and precision machining experience.
• 5+ years of experience with CNC programming, manufacturing engineering, or precision machining.
• Strong experience developing CNC programs using CATIA CAM
• Advanced understanding of CNC machining strategies, including:
  • Multi-axis CNC machining
  • High-volume material removal
  • Aerospace structural machining
  • Cutting-tool selection
  • Speeds and feeds
  • Toolpath development
  • CNC machine setup
  • Large-part work holding
  • Datum and locating strategies
  • Process optimization
• Strong understanding of machining challenges associated with large, thin-wall, and monolithic aerospace structures.
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, specifications, and 3D CAD models.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and its application to machining and inspection.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot CNC machining processes directly on the manufacturing floor.
• Demonstrated ability to independently take a component from engineering definition through CATIA CAM programming, process planning, tooling, setup development, prove-out, and production release.
• Strong analytical and mechanical problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with engineering, quality, operations, and shop-floor personnel.
• Strong experience programming 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC machining centers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience programming large, multi-spindle open bed gantry machines.
• Experience with post processors and CNC program verification or simulation.
• Experience machining a variety of materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys, plastics, and other engineered materials.
• Experience designing machining fixtures and workholding.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience working within a regulated or highly controlled manufacturing environment.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Manufacturing ownership: Takes responsibility for developing a process that works reliably on the shop floor.
• Hands-on problem solving: Comfortable working at the machine alongside machinists to diagnose and resolve problems.
• Technical rigor: Understands how tooling, machine dynamics, workholding, GD&T, and process variation interact.
• Continuous improvement: Consistently looks for opportunities to improve cycle time, quality, tooling cost, and process reliability.
• Collaboration: Builds strong working relationships between Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Attention to detail: Maintains accurate programs, documentation, revision control, and manufacturing instructions.
• Bias for execution: Can move efficiently from concept and CAD model to a proven production process.

What Success Looks Like

A successful CNC Programming Engineer will:

1. Deliver production-ready CNC programs and processes that are safe, capable, and repeatable.
2. Reduce programming and machining lead times for new components.
3. Improve cycle times and machine utilization without compromising quality.
4. Reduce tooling failures, scrap, rework, and manufacturing variability.
5. Improve the quality and consistency of CNC setup and process documentation.
6. Become a trusted technical resource for CNC machining across Engineering and Operations.

Working Environment

This position requires regular interaction with CNC equipment and manufacturing personnel in a shop-floor environment. The employee will routinely divide time between engineering/programming activities and hands-on manufacturing support.

With more than 120 operations and approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, Precision Castparts Corp. is the market leader in manufacturing large, complex structural investment castings, airfoil castings, forged components, aerostructures and highly engineered, critical fasteners for aerospace applications. In addition, we are the leading producer of airfoil castings for the industrial gas turbine market. We also manufacture extruded seamless pipe, fittings, and forgings for power generation and oil & gas applications; commercial and military airframe aerostructures; and metal alloys and other materials for the casting and forging industries. With such critical applications, we insist on quality and dependability - not just in the materials and products we make, but in the people we recruit.

PCC is relentless in its dedication to being a high-quality, low-cost and on-time producer; delivering the highest value to its customers while continually pursuing strategic, profitable growth.

In 2016, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Chairman and CEO Warren E. Buffett, acquired Precision Castparts Corp.