CNC Shop Floor Manager / Mastercam Programmer
Location: Blaine, Minnesota
Job Type: Full-time
Schedule: Day shift, Monday through Friday
Pay: Competitive and based on experience
Job Summary
Seeking an experienced CNC Shop Floor Manager / Mastercam Programmer to oversee daily machining operations while providing advanced CNC programming and technical support.
This is a hands-on leadership position for an experienced manufacturing professional who can manage workflow, develop efficient machining processes, program complex components in Mastercam, and support machinists in producing high-quality parts on schedule.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in CNC milling and turning, Mastercam programming, setup development, tooling selection, shop-floor leadership, and precision manufacturing. This person will work closely with company leadership, production personnel, quality, purchasing, and customers to ensure jobs are completed safely, accurately, efficiently, and on time.
Primary Responsibilities:
Shop Floor Management:
- Direct and coordinate daily CNC machining and production activities.
- Assign work to machinists based on priorities, machine capabilities, due dates, and employee experience.
- Review the production schedule and adjust staffing, machine assignments, and priorities as needed.
- Monitor job progress and address issues that could affect quality, cost, or delivery.
- Provide hands-on technical support for CNC setups, tooling, programming, fixturing, and troubleshooting.
- Maintain an organized, professional, safe, and productive shop-floor environment.
- Ensure employees follow company procedures, work instructions, quality requirements, and safety practices.
- Train, mentor, and develop CNC machinists and setup personnel.
- Help establish productivity expectations and hold employees accountable for performance and workmanship.
- Communicate production status, capacity concerns, equipment problems, and staffing needs to company leadership.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance and help minimize machine downtime.
- Support continuous-improvement projects involving cycle-time reduction, setup reduction, tooling, workflow, and quality.
Mastercam Programming and Process Development:
- Create, revise, and optimize Mastercam programs for CNC mills and lathes.
- Develop machining processes from customer drawings, CAD models, specifications, and purchase-order requirements.
- Select appropriate tooling, workholding, cutting parameters, and machining strategies.
- Create setup sheets, tool lists, operation instructions, and other documentation needed by machinists.
- Determine efficient operation sequences and recommend the most appropriate machine for each job.
- Program complex prototypes, short-run components, and repeat production work.
- Verify programs using simulation and other available verification methods before releasing them to production.
- Troubleshoot dimensional, tooling, finish, cycle-time, and programming issues.
- Improve existing programs to reduce setup time, machining time, scrap, and unnecessary tool changes.
- Maintain organized program files, revisions, CAD models, setup documentation, and tooling information.
- Assist with estimating machining time, setup time, tooling requirements, and manufacturing feasibility for quotations.
Quality and Delivery:
- Review drawings for tolerances, GD&T requirements, material specifications, finishing requirements, and inspection needs.
- Work closely with the quality department to resolve nonconforming conditions and prevent recurrence.
- Ensure first-piece inspections and in-process inspections are completed as required.
- Support root-cause analysis and corrective-action activities.
- Help maintain compliance with the company’s ISO 9001 quality management system.
- Ensure completed jobs meet customer requirements before moving to the next operation.
- Promote a culture of quality, accountability, communication, and on-time delivery.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of 7 years of CNC machining, setup, and programming experience.
- Strong working knowledge of Mastercam.
- Demonstrated experience programming CNC milling machines.
- CNC turning and live-tool lathe programming experience is strongly preferred.
- Previous experience leading machinists, managing a machine shop, or supervising production personnel.
- Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, tolerances, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications.
- Strong understanding of cutting tools, workholding, speeds and feeds, machining strategies, and process development.
- Experience machining aluminum, stainless steel, alloy steel, plastics, and other common manufacturing materials.
- Ability to troubleshoot CNC programs, setups, machine conditions, dimensional issues, and surface-finish problems.
- Ability to estimate setup and machining time.
- Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple jobs and changing production priorities.
- Comfortable working directly with machinists and providing hands-on shop-floor support.
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and electronic document management.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with multi-axis milling, horizontal machining centers, Y-axis lathes, sub-spindles, and live tooling.
- Experience programming and supporting Haas, Doosan, or Kiwa CNC equipment.
- Experience with prototype, low-volume, and high-mix precision machining.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, aerospace, defense, medical, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
- Experience with fixture design and CAD modeling.
- Experience managing tooling inventories and standardizing tooling practices.
- Experience with ERP, job scheduling, or manufacturing-management software.
- Experience training and developing CNC machinists and setup personnel.
Leadership Expectations
The successful candidate will:
- Lead by example and maintain a professional, respectful work environment.
- Be visible and engaged on the shop floor.
- Address problems directly and constructively.
- Communicate clearly with employees and company leadership.
- Balance quality, productivity, safety, and delivery requirements.
- Take ownership of production results and follow issues through completion.
- Develop employees rather than simply assigning work.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, documentation, tooling, and workflow.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to stand and walk throughout the manufacturing facility for extended periods.
- Ability to inspect machines, tooling, fixtures, and workpieces.
- Ability to lift or move items weighing up to 40 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to safely work around CNC equipment, cutting tools, coolants, chips, and normal manufacturing conditions.
Offers:
- Full-time, year-round employment.
- Day-shift schedule.
- Competitive compensation based on experience.
- Opportunity to lead and improve a well-established precision machine shop.
- Variety of prototype, short-run, and production machining projects.
- Modern CNC milling and turning equipment.
- A hands-on position with meaningful input into shop operations and future growth.
- Benefits and paid-time-off programs in accordance with company policies.
About:
An established precision manufacturing company located in Blaine, Minnesota. We provide CNC milling, CNC turning, prototype machining, custom component manufacturing, and production support to customers in a variety of industries.
We are committed to quality, dependable delivery, continuous improvement, and building long-term relationships with our customers and employees pay range is between 35-50 per hour, depending on qualifications.
An equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, performance, and business needs without regard to legally protected status.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Machining: 7 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
