CNC Applications Engineering Lead

Software Placement Group; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Placement Group in Cincinnati, OH is seeking an experienced CNC Applications Engineering Lead to serve as a senior, hands-on technical resource for its applications engineering team, driving advanced machining solutions on-site with customers.

You will mentor engineers, lead complex projects, optimize CNC processes, troubleshoot challenges, and collaborate with Sales, Service, Engineering and Product teams to ensure smooth installations, accurate part tolerances, and measurable

Qualifications

• Experience in CNC applications or related engineering roles.
• Ability to translate prints into machining processes.
• Strong knowledge of CNC programming, G-code, and tooling.
• Experience developing machining processes from print to production.
• Experience with multi-axis CNC machining (4/5-axis, Swiss, etc.).
• Experience with major CNC controls (Fanuc/Siemens/Mazak/Ospf/Haas).
• Ability to mentor, train, and lead other engineers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical lead and senior resource for the CNC Applications Engineering team
• Mentor and develop Applications Engineers, sharing machining knowledge and best practices
• Coordinate team workload, priorities, and customer projects
• Take the lead on complex applications projects and act as escalation point
• Develop and optimize CNC machining processes incl. tooling, speeds, cycles
• Support CNC machine installations, prove-outs, runoff, and customer acceptance
• Collaborate with customers to evaluate parts, tolerances, materials, and production requirements
• Support Sales with technical expertise during evaluations, demonstrations and test cuts
• Evaluate machine configurations, tooling, workholding, and automation
• Deliver or oversee customer training on machine operation and CAM/process best practices
• Collaborate with Sales, Service, Engineering, and Product Management to resolve issues
• Establish and improve applications engineering standards and workflows
• Identify opportunities to improve machine performance and productivity
• Stay current on CNC technology, controls, tooling, CAM software, and strategies

Skills

CNC programming

Machining processes

Multi-axis CNC

G-code

Troubleshooting

Technical leadership

Customer communication

Team mentoring

Travel readiness

Tools

Fanuc control

Siemens control

Mazak control

OSP control

Haas control

CAM software

Job description

Location: Cincinnati, OH | Schedule: Full-time, on-site

Overview

An established manufacturer of CNC machining equipment is seeking an experienced CNC Applications Engineering Lead to serve as a senior technical resource and hands-on leader for its applications engineering team based in Cincinnati, OH. This role suits someone who enjoys staying close to the machines-developing processes, solving difficult machining challenges, supporting customer demonstrations, and helping bring new equipment successfully into production-while also taking on greater ownership of technical direction, project execution, and team development.

What you'll do

• Serve as a technical lead and senior resource for the CNC Applications Engineering team
• Mentor and develop Applications Engineers, sharing machining knowledge, troubleshooting techniques, programming strategies, and applications best practices
• Help coordinate team workload, priorities, customer projects, machine installations, demonstrations, training, and other applications activities
• Take the lead on complex or technically challenging applications projects, serving as an escalation point when additional expertise is needed
• Develop and optimize CNC machining processes, including programming strategy, tooling, workholding, feeds and speeds, cycle-time optimization, and overall process efficiency
• Support CNC machine installations, prove-outs, runoff activities, and customer acceptance as needed
• Partner with customers to evaluate parts, prints, tolerances, materials, production requirements, and manufacturing challenges to develop effective machining solutions
• Support Sales with technical expertise during customer evaluations, machine demonstrations, test cuts, benchmarking, and solution development
• Help evaluate machine configurations, tooling, workholding, automation, and peripheral equipment based on customer applications
• Deliver or oversee customer training related to machine operation, programming, machining processes, and applications best practices
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Service, Engineering, Product Management, and other internal teams to resolve technical issues and ensure successful customer outcomes
• Establish and improve applications engineering standards, processes, documentation, and workflows to create greater consistency across the team
• Identify opportunities to improve machine performance, cycle times, part quality, process reliability, and customer productivity
• Stay current on CNC technology, controls, tooling, CAM software, automation, and advanced machining strategies

Required qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with CNC metal-cutting equipment, including machining centers, lathes, and other advanced CNC platforms
• Prior experience in CNC Applications Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, CNC Programming, or a similar technical machining role
• Strong understanding of CNC programming, G-code, machining processes, tooling, workholding, speeds and feeds, and process optimization
• Experience developing machining processes from print or part requirements through successful production
• Working knowledge of multi-axis CNC machining; experience with 4-axis, 5-axis, Swiss, mill-turn, or other advanced platforms is highly valued
• Experience with at least one major CNC control platform is required, such as Fanuc, Siemens, Mazak, OSP, or Haas
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex machining, programming, tooling, workholding, and process-related challenges
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively with customers, Applications Engineers, Sales, Service, and leadership
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to help prioritize multiple applications projects and customer requirements
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, training, or providing technical leadership to other engineers, programmers, or machinists
• Experience with high-precision machining and complex part manufacturing
• Ability to travel regionally up to 25%

Preferred qualifications

• Fanuc experience is preferred
• Experience with CAM software and offline CNC programming is strongly preferred

Why this role

This is an opportunity to take greater ownership of technical direction, project execution, and team development while staying hands-on with complex machining challenges and customer-facing applications work.