CAD CAM Department Manager

Expertec Dental Laboratory; Westland (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Expertec Dental Laboratory seeks a CAD/CAM Manager to oversee the digital production line from case intake through finishing. You will lead CAD design, milling, 3D printing and sintering teams, set workflows, SOPs and quality standards, and ensure every case meets prescriptions and occlusal requirements.

This is a hands-on leadership role focused on scheduling, quality control and process improvement. You will report to the CFO/COO and collaborate with department heads to deliver precise

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of dental laboratory experience, including 3+ years in digital CAD/CAM production, and 2+ years supervising a team or leading a department.
• Certified Dental Technician (CDT) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees case intake and scanning workflow, ensuring RXs align with scans and design.
• Directs CAD design, milling, 3D printing and sintering for complex restorations.
• Maintains equipment uptime, tooling inventory and design standards.
• Leads vendor relationships and evaluates new CAD/CAM technologies.
• Monitors KPIs and ensures on-time handoffs between departments.

Skills

Leadership

Quality control

Process improvement

Team coordination

Education

CDT preferred

Dental lab experience

Tools

3Shape Dental System

exocad

CAM nesting software

HeyGears Cloud

Magic Touch

Excel

Outlook

Job description

POSITION: CAD/CAM Manager

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for overseeing Expertec DentalLaboratory's digital production line (CAD/CAM), from the moment a digital scan or physical case arrives to the moment a milled, printed or sintered part goes to finishing. The CAD/CAM Manager leads the CAD design, milling, 3D printing and sintering teams and runs case intake, including desktop scanning of physical impressions and models. The role sets the workflows, SOPs and product standards, and ensures every design meets the prescription, occlusal requirements and Expertec's quality standards before it is released to production.

This is a hands-on leadership role: the CAD/CAM Manager designs and troubleshoots alongside the team while owning scheduling, quality, equipment uptime and process improvement. The position reports to the CFO/COO and works closely with other department managers and lab leadership to deliver precision-fit restorations to dental clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Case Intake and Scanning:

Oversees all incoming digital cases from 3Shape Communicate, Shining 3D Dental Cloud and other scanner portals used by client offices.

Oversees desktop scanning of physical impressions and models so conventional cases enter the same digital workflow; sets standards for poured and trimmed models, bite registration and mounting before scanning.

Ensures every scan, whether from an office or made in the lab, is checked for margins, bite, opposing arch and prep clearance before it enters design.

Reviews incoming prescriptions for completeness and resolves scan and Rx problems with offices or the sales team the same day so cases are not held up.

Confirms case details in the lab management system match the scan and the Rx, and triages cases by due date, product type and rush status.

Onboards new digital offices: scanner connection, file sharing, Rx setup and doctor preferences.

Maintains and calibrates desktop scanners and trains staff on scanning technique.

CAD Design:

Designs cases hands-on as part of the daily design workload and manages day-to-day design of crowns, bridges, implant abutments and restorations, inlays/onlays, veneers and models in 3Shape Dental System.

Sets design standards by product and by doctor: contacts, occlusion, margins and minimum thickness by material.

QCs designs against prescribed specifications and personally reviews complex, multi-unit and implant cases before they are released to production.

Balances the design queue across in-house designers and outsourced design partners, and monitors partner quality.

Maintains material libraries, templates and doctor preference settings.

Evaluates and helps roll out AI-assisted design tools and automation.

Milling (CAM):

Oversees the milling technician's CAM nesting and milling of zirconia, lithium disilicate, PMMA, wax and other milled materials.

Ensures mill runs are scheduled so parts reach sintering and finishing on time, maximizing units per puck and block.

Ensures the milling technician keeps up mill maintenance (calibration, bur life tracking, spindle care, preventive maintenance logs) and milling material and tooling inventory.

3D Printing:

Oversees the 3D printing technician's printed production on HeyGears A3D printers through HeyGears Cloud: models, dies, splints, guides and try-ins.

Ensures print settings, resin handling, washing and post-cure steps are documented and followed, and that printed models are checked for fit and accuracy.

Ensures the 3D printing technician keeps up printer maintenance, calibration and resin inventory.

Sintering:

Oversees the sintering technician's zirconia sintering with the correct program for each material, shade and restoration size.

Ensures furnace loads and cycles, including overnight and speed sintering, are planned to meet ship dates.

Ensures the sintering technician keeps up furnace calibration, maintenance and heating element care, and maintains verification records.

Workflows, Products and Technology:

Monitors department performance: on-time hand-off, digital remake rate, intake turnaround, first-pass design approval, design throughput, equipment uptime, material yield and cross-training coverage; finds root causes of remakes and implements fixes.

Establishes individual KPIs for each technician and designer (e.g., output, on-time completion, remake rate, QC pass rate), monitors them regularly, and holds the team accountable to meeting them.

Assists leadership in evaluating and implementing new CAD software, milling systems and digital workflow integrations, including the lab management software transition and its integration with 3Shape.

Stays current on advancements in dental CAD/CAM technology, materials and design protocols.

Ensures case files are archived and backed up according to lab procedure, and handles first-line troubleshooting of CAD/CAM software, licensing and connection issues.

Coordination and Vendors:

Collaborates with the Porcelain, Implants, Finishing, Model Room, Shipping and Customer Service departments to ensure seamless hand-off of digital work to downstream production steps.

Acts as the point of contact for doctors on digital and technical questions.

Manages vendor relationships with 3Shape, HeyGears, material suppliers and equipment service providers, including software licenses, updates and service calls.

Provides budget input on equipment, materials and software licenses.

Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position directly supervises 2-4 technicians. Responsibilities include hiring, conducting annual performance reviews and regular one-on-one meetings with each team member, training and cross-training so every production step has backup coverage, establishing and maintaining department documentation (SOPs, training records and work instructions), and supporting technician professional development.

QUALIFICATIONS:

3-5 years of dental laboratory experience, including 3+ years in digital CAD/CAM production, and 2+ years supervising a team or leading a department. Certified Dental Technician (CDT) preferred.

Computer skills required: CAD Software (3Shape Dental System required; exocad experience considered); CAM nesting and milling software; 3D printing software (HeyGears Cloud or similar); Dental Lab Management Software (Magic Touch or similar); Spreadsheet Software (Excel); Word Processing Software (Word); Electronic Mail Software (Outlook).

Other skills required:

Expert-level proficiency in 3Shape Dental System, with demonstrated ability to design complex multi-unit restorations, implant abutments and full-arch cases.

Hands-on experience with desktop scanning of impressions and models, zirconia milling, sintering and 3D printing.

Strong understanding of dental anatomy, occlusion and materials science as they apply to the design of ceramic, zirconia and metal restorations.

Proven ability to lead and develop a technical team, providing hands-on training and constructive performance feedback.

Detail-oriented with strong quality control instincts and a zero-defect mindset in digital design accuracy.

Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate cross-departmentally and relay technical requirements clearly to technicians, doctors and lab leadership; calm under deadline pressure.

Ability to troubleshoot design errors, scan issues and software problems quickly and independently to minimize production delays.

Comfortable with Windows PCs, networks and organized file management.

Passion for digital dentistry and a commitment to staying current with evolving CAD/CAM technologies and workflows.

Preferred:

Implant workflow experience: custom abutments, screw-retained, multi-unit and full-arch cases.

Experience with lab management software such as MagicTouch, LabTrac, Evident or 3Shape LMS.

Experience receiving cases from multiple intraoral scanner platforms.

Background in lean manufacturing or process improvement, and experience building training programs for technicians.

COMPETENCIES:

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.

Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self-available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services.; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.

Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

On-site at the Westland, MI lab, Monday through Friday, with occasional early, late or Saturday coverage for rush cases or equipment problems.

Lab environment with mill noise, dust and resins (PPE provided and required); long periods at a computer workstation, plus standing and lifting up to 25 lb.