GTC Machining · 1 day ago
CNC Programmer - Lead
Indianapolis, IN
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
8+ years expGTC Machining is a major supplier of machining and engineering services across various market segments including Defense and Aerospace. The Lead CNC Programmer is responsible for overseeing CNC programming activities, ensuring compliance with standards, and leading initiatives for New Product Introduction and continuous improvement.
IndustrialIndustrial ManufacturingManufacturingMechanical Engineering
Responsibilities
Own, develop, and maintain CNC programming standards, best practices, and guidelines to ensure consistency, repeatability, and compliance across all CNC operations
Lead and oversee CNC program development, validation, and release, ensuring programs meet engineering intent, quality requirements, and manufacturing standards
Establish and enforce standards for setup sheets, documentation, revision control, and program handoff to production
Serve as the technical authority for CNC programming decisions, machining strategies, and process optimization
Develop and write CNC programs using engineering drawings, models, and specifications
Design and develop fixtures to support CNC setup and quick-change operations
Select appropriate tooling for each job, considering speeds, feeds, cutter types, and machining strategies
Create and maintain setup sheets and required documentation to support consistent and repeatable processes
Run assigned first-article development parts to test CNC programs and validate that they produce conforming parts
Oversee the development of all CNC programs
Coordinate, prioritize, and assign all CNC programming projects and tasks, including New Product Introduction (NPI) and Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives
Review and approve CNC programs, tooling strategies, and setups prior to production release
Guide all fixture design and development to support efficient setups, quick changeovers, and robust processes
Oversee all first-article development builds, capability studies, and validation runs
Support complex or high-risk machining challenges, troubleshooting dimensional, surface finish, and process capability issues
Partner closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure effective communication and seamless transitions from development to production
Support NPI efforts by establishing machining strategies early and ensuring manufacturability is built into designs
Collaborate with tooling suppliers, CAM vendors, and technical consultants to evaluate and implement new tools, technologies, and programming techniques
Develop, own, and maintain the training and development roadmap for CNC programmers, aligned with current and future business needs, equipment, and complexity
Assess team capabilities and identify skill gaps across programming, machining strategies, tooling, GD&T application, and CAM proficiency
Lead targeted skill-building initiatives, including hands-on training, mentoring, standard work development, and external training where appropriate
Establish progression expectations and competency standards for CNC programmers to support consistent execution and career development
Work proactively to build bench strength and cross-capability within the CNC programming team to reduce risk and improve flexibility
Support onboarding and ramp-up of new CNC programmers through structured training plans and standard documentation
Drive continuous improvement in CNC programs, machining processes, cycle times, quality, and throughput
Support root-cause analysis and corrective actions for machining-related nonconformances
Ensure CNC programming and machining activities align with Lean manufacturing principles and quality system requirements
Promote and enforce 6S, safety, and standard work within CNC programming and machining areas
Ensure accurate completion and review of job-related documentation, production reporting, and tracking
Maintain compliance with all safety policies, regulations, and best practices
Perform other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Minimum 8 years of CNC programming experience, or 5 years with a technical diploma, including demonstrated technical leadership responsibilities
Advanced proficiency with CAM software (e.g., Mastercam, Fusion 360, or similar)
Experience programming and supporting 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC machines
Expert understanding of tooling selection, tool wear, machining strategies, and process optimization across multiple materials
Proven ability to lead CNC programming efforts through first article, capability validation, and production handoff
Strong root-cause problem-solving skills related to machining quality, capability, and efficiency issues
Expert-level blueprint reading and GD&T knowledge; familiarity with inspection methods and applicable specifications
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, workflows, and production environments
Demonstrated ability to lead by influence, mentor others, and enforce technical standards
Preferred
Experience working within Lean manufacturing and quality systems preferred (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, AS9100D)
Benefits
Competitive salary and benefits package
Company
GTC Machining
GTC Machining is a precision contract machining company that serves the aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial sectors.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase