Job Overview
LocDown is seeking a hands-on CNC Milling Specialist who can take a part from design through finished production. This person will program CNC mills using Mastercam, set up and operate the machines, inspect completed parts, troubleshoot machining issues, and use SolidWorks to create or revise production-ready models and drawings.
This is not a machine-tending position or a desk-only CAD role. The right candidate can move comfortably between the computer and the production floor, understands how design decisions affect machining and fabrication, and takes ownership of work through completion.
In addition to CNC milling, this position supports LocDown’s broader manufacturing operation, including laser cutting, press-brake forming, welding, finishing, assembly, and inspection. The role will also help coordinate technical production work but will not have direct reports or disciplinary authority.
Responsibilities
CNC Programming, Setup, and Machining
- Create, modify, and optimize CNC milling programs using Mastercam.
- Use SolidWorks models and production drawings to develop accurate and efficient machining processes and toolpaths.
- Post programs, review G-code, and make safe edits or corrections when required.
- Plan machining operations, setups, and sequences from raw material through finished part.
- Select appropriate tooling, toolholders, workholding, cutting parameters, feeds, speeds, coolant, and machining strategies.
- Establish work offsets, tool offsets, and part zero accurately.
- Set up and operate CNC mills safely and independently.
- Prove out new and revised programs using simulation, toolpath review, single-block operation, reduced rapid rates, and controlled first cycles.
- Perform first-article and in-process inspections using calipers, micrometers, indicators, height gauges, and other appropriate measuring equipment.
- Diagnose and correct dimensional problems, poor finishes, tool wear, broken tools, chatter, workholding issues, and program errors.
- Maintain clear program, setup, tooling, and revision records so successful jobs can be repeated consistently.
- Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe machining area and identify routine maintenance needs.
SolidWorks Design and Production Documentation
- Create and revise 3D parts, assemblies, sheet-metal components, and production drawings using SolidWorks.
- Develop manufacturable designs for machined, laser-cut, formed, welded, finished, and assembled products.
- Produce accurate flat patterns, DXF files, drawings, dimensions, tolerances, material specifications, finish requirements, and revision information.
- Apply practical design-for-manufacturing judgment, including tool access, workholding, machining sequence, bend access, weld access, clearances, tolerances, coating thickness, and inspection requirements.
- Review customer drawings, models, samples, and incomplete specifications and identify missing information before releasing work to production.
- Update models, drawings, CNC programs, and supporting documents together so production always has the correct revision.
Production Support and Technical Coordination
- Follow jobs from the initial request through programming, machining, fabrication, inspection, correction, and release.
- Work directly with production employees to resolve design and manufacturing problems on the shop floor.
- Coordinate technical priorities across multiple active jobs based on delivery commitments, material availability, dependencies, customer impact, and remaining work.
- Communicate missing information, risks, delays, and production problems early and clearly.
- Respond constructively when a design or process is difficult, expensive, or unreliable to manufacture and revise it when function can be preserved.
- Support laser cutting, press-brake forming, welding, finishing, assembly, inspection, and other production work when needed.
- Help improve setups, documentation, repeatability, quality, workflow, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Provide practical technical direction through clear requirements, sound judgment, collaboration, and follow-through.
- Take ownership of mistakes, contain affected work, correct the source documents or programs, and help prevent recurrence.
Files, Data, and Document Control
- Read and work from Excel files used for bills of material, cut lists, job information, specifications, schedules, and production tracking.
- Maintain organized SolidWorks, Mastercam, CNC program, drawing, setup, and production files.
- Use clear file names and consistent part numbers and revision levels.
- Protect production from obsolete programs, drawings, and setup information.
- Record changes clearly and distribute current information to the people performing the work.
Required Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience programming, setting up, and operating CNC mills.
- Proficiency with Mastercam for CNC milling.
- Ability to create machining strategies and programs—not only load and run existing programs.
- Working proficiency with SolidWorks, including parts, assemblies, and production drawings.
- Experience turning CAD models and drawings into repeatable, production-ready machining processes.
- Strong understanding of tooling, workholding, offsets, feeds and speeds, machining sequences, and first-article prove-out.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, dimensions, tolerances, material callouts, and finish requirements.
- Ability to inspect parts accurately using common precision measuring instruments.
- Ability to read and work with Microsoft Excel files.
- Strong mechanical judgment and a systematic approach to troubleshooting.
- Reliable revision control, file organization, and documentation habits.
- Ability to work on-site and move regularly between programming, machining, design, inspection, and production support.
- Willingness to take ownership, communicate directly, and help wherever needed in a small manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience machining steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other common production materials.
- Experience with multi-operation or multi-sided milling and complex workholding.
- Strong SolidWorks sheet-metal experience, including flat patterns, bend settings, reliefs, and DXF creation.
- Experience supporting laser cutting, press brakes, welding, powder coating, assembly, or related fabrication processes.
- Experience improving cycle times, tool life, setup time, repeatability, and scrap rates.
- Experience coordinating technical production work or helping less-experienced team members solve problems.
What Success Looks Like
- CNC programs are safe, accurate, efficient, documented, and repeatable.
- Setups and first articles are completed methodically with minimal scrap or rework.
- SolidWorks models, drawings, and CNC programs match the correct production revision.
- Designs account for how parts will actually be machined, formed, welded, finished, assembled, and inspected.
- Production receives clear information and timely support when problems arise.
- Work is followed through completion rather than handed off and forgotten.
- Problems are investigated at the source, and improvements are carried into future jobs.
Work Environment
This is a full-time, on-site position in a practical, fast-moving manufacturing environment. The role combines computer-based programming and design with regular shop-floor work around CNC machinery and fabrication equipment.
Quality, safety, accuracy, organization, adaptability, and follow-through are essential.
LocDown is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
Pay: $29.00 - $38.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Experience:
- CNC milling machine: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person
