Position Description:
The Machining Department Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous improvement for all machining operations within the organization. This position oversees machinists, CNC programmers, inspection personnel, and related production support functions to ensure safe, efficient, high-quality, and on-time manufacturing performance.
This role is responsible for evaluating internal machining capabilities and determining the most effective utilization of in-house resources versus outsourced manufacturing solutions. The Machining Department Manager serves as a key contributor to operational planning, quality assurance, employee development, production efficiency, vendor management, estimating support, and process improvement initiatives.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing leader with extensive machining expertise, strong leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate across departments to drive operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities:
Department Leadership & Operations Management
- Lead, direct, and manage all daily machining department operations to achieve production, quality, safety, and delivery objectives.
- Supervise machinists, CNC programmers, setup personnel, inspection staff, and related support employees.
- Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and operational priorities aligned with company objectives.
- Monitor workflow, machine utilization, labor efficiency, throughput, and departmental productivity.
- Coordinate staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation to maximize operational effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, quality standards, customer requirements, and safety regulations.
- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
Machining & Production Oversight
- Oversee CNC and conventional machining operations, including setup, programming, tooling, fixturing, and process optimization.
- Review and approve machining methods, tooling strategies, setup procedures, and manufacturing processes.
- Partner with programming and production personnel to improve cycle times, reduce setup durations, and enhance manufacturability.
- Troubleshoot machining challenges, production bottlenecks, and process inefficiencies.
- Evaluate equipment capabilities, machine capacity, and production resources to support scheduling and quoting activities.
- Ensure preventative maintenance programs and tooling management practices are effectively maintained.
Programming Management
- Provide leadership and oversight for CNC programming activities.
- Ensure accurate, efficient, and production-ready CNC programs are developed and maintained.
- Review programming standards, machining strategies, tooling selections, feeds, and speeds to optimize performance.
- Support implementation of new technologies, software solutions, and advanced machining techniques.
- Maintain proper revision control and program documentation procedures.
Quality & Inspection Management
- Oversee inspection operations and ensure compliance with customer specifications, quality procedures, and inspection requirements.
- Coordinate first article inspections, in-process inspections, and final inspection activities.
- Ensure proper calibration, maintenance, and utilization of inspection equipment and measuring devices.
- Collaborate with Quality Assurance personnel to address nonconformance issues, corrective actions, and root cause investigations.
- Support implementation and continuous improvement of quality systems and inspection processes.
- Promote a proactive quality culture focused on defect prevention and process control.
Insourcing & Outsourcing Management
- Evaluate manufacturing requirements and determine the most effective allocation of work between internal machining resources and external suppliers.
- Assess outsourcing decisions based on equipment capabilities, capacity, cost effectiveness, lead times, quality requirements, and technical complexity.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with qualified machining vendors, specialty service providers, and subcontractors.
- Coordinate outsourced operations including requests for quotation (RFQs), purchasing support, lead-time management, quality follow-up, and delivery tracking.
- Monitor supplier performance related to quality, responsiveness, delivery, and cost competitiveness.
Estimating Support & Manufacturing Consultation
- Provide technical guidance and coaching to estimators regarding machining processes, manufacturing methods, tooling requirements, cycle times, and production capabilities.
- Assist with manufacturability reviews and technical evaluations during the quoting process.
- Support accurate labor estimates, setup calculations, process development, and production planning assumptions.
- Collaborate with sales, engineering, and estimating teams to improve quote accuracy, profitability, and competitiveness.
Vendor, Customer & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Communicate and coordinate with vendors, tooling suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and subcontractors.
- Participate in customer meetings, facility tours, audits, technical discussions, and project reviews as needed.
- Support sourcing decisions, vendor evaluations, and supplier development initiatives.
- Work closely with engineering, production planning, quality, sales, and management teams to achieve operational goals.
Employee Development & Coaching
- Train, mentor, and develop employees within machining and inspection functions.
- Conduct performance evaluations, coaching sessions, and career development discussions.
- Identify skill gaps and coordinate technical training and professional development opportunities.
- Promote cross-training initiatives to improve workforce flexibility and succession planning.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance work environment.
Continuous Improvement & Process Development
- Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives throughout machining operations.
- Identify opportunities to reduce setup times, scrap, rework, downtime, and overall manufacturing costs.
- Implement process improvements that enhance quality, productivity, throughput, and customer satisfaction.
- Support capital equipment planning, facility expansion efforts, and technology investments.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing best practices, standard operating procedures, and operational standards.
Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and safe machining practices.
- Promote a strong safety culture through leadership, training, and employee engagement.
- Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), machine guarding, and safe work procedures.
- Investigate safety concerns, incidents, and near misses and implement corrective actions as needed.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field; equivalent combination or education and experience required.
- Minimum of 7–10 years of machining and manufacturing experience.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of leadership or management experience within a machining or manufacturing environment.
- Strong background in CNC machining, programming, tooling, fixturing, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience overseeing inspection, quality systems, and precision measurement activities.
- Experience with vendor management, subcontract machining, and outsourcing decisions.
- Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing software.
- Strong commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and employee development.
- Extensive knowledge of machining processes, manufacturing methods, and production operations.
- Ability to read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications.
- Thorough understanding of quality standards, inspection methods, and precision measurement techniques.
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across all organizational levels.
- Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Join us as an Machine Department Manager and become a vital part of a vibrant team dedicated to growth, innovation, and making a difference!
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Education:
Experience:
- Manufacturing: 7 years (Preferred)
- Management: 3 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
