CNC Applications Engineering Lead - Multi-Axis Machining

Ilocatum; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilocatum in Cincinnati, OH is seeking an experienced CNC Applications Engineering Lead to guide an established team, stay close to machines, and drive technical direction and project execution.

The role blends hands-on machining with leadership, mentoring engineers, coordinating customer projects, and establishing best practices across Sales, Service, Engineering and Product teams to ensure successful outcomes.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with CNC metal-cutting equipment and machines.
• Experience leading applications engineering teams or projects.
• Strong knowledge of G-code, machining processes, tooling, and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical lead for the CNC Applications Engineering team.
• Mentor and develop Applications Engineers in machining knowledge and best practices.
• Coordinate team workload, customer projects, machine installations, and demonstrations.
• Lead complex applications projects and act as escalation point for technical challenges.
• Develop and optimize CNC machining processes including tooling, workholding, feeds and speeds, and cycle times.
• Support machine installations, prove-outs, runoff activities, and customer acceptance.
• Collaborate with customers to evaluate parts, prints, tolerances, materials, and production requirements.
• Assist Sales with technical expertise during customer evaluations, tests, and solution development.
• Evaluate machine configurations, tooling, workholding, automation, and peripheral equipment for applications.
• Deliver or oversee customer training on machine operation, programming, and applications best practices.
• Collaborate with Sales, Service, Engineering, Product Management and others to resolve issues and ensure outcomes.
• Establish and improve applications engineering standards, processes, and workflows for consistency.
• Identify opportunities to improve machine performance, cycle times, and product quality.
• Stay current on CNC technology, controls, tooling, CAM software, and advanced machining strategies.

Skills

CNC machining

G-code programming

Machining processes optimization

Multi-axis CNC

Technical leadership

Customer demonstrations

Project coordination

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Travel willingness

Tools

CAM software

Offline CNC programming

Job description

We are seeking an experienced CNC Applications Engineering Lead to serve as a senior technical resource and hands-on leader for an established applications engineering team based in Cincinnati, OH.

This role is ideal for someone who still enjoys being close to the machines—developing processes, solving difficult machining challenges, supporting customer demonstrations, and helping get new equipment successfully into production—but is also ready to take greater ownership of technical direction, project execution, and team development.

The Applications Engineering Lead will help guide and mentor Applications Engineers, coordinate complex customer projects, establish applications best practices, and serve as an escalation point for challenging machining and process-development needs.

Candidates do not need to be experts across every machine platform; a strong CNC machining foundation, advanced applications experience, and the ability to learn new technologies are most important.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements:

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