CNC Grinding Technician

WaveCrest Staffing Group; Lino Lakes (MN); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

WaveCrest Staffing Group is seeking an experienced Centerless Grinding Department Lead / CNC Grinding Technician in Minnesota. The role focuses on setup, operation, troubleshooting, and process optimization for high‑precision grinding in a medical device environment.

You will lead and mentor grinding technicians, coordinate daily workflow, and ensure production targets and quality standards are met. The position is direct hire with a Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm schedule and a pay rate of $30–$36 per

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical education or certification in machining, CNC technology, or related discipline preferred.
• Approximately 2-4 years of CNC high-precision manufacturing experience with tight tolerances.
• Hands-on experience with centerless grinding and CNC grinding equipment preferred.
• Independently perform setups and troubleshoot production issues.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform complete setups on CNC grinders (Gen-5, Gen-X, CAM, Tactic).
• Set up and operate high-precision grinding equipment to meet production rates.
• Maintain grinding equipment throughout production and during shifts.
• Monitor machine performance and adjust to maintain specs and efficiency.
• Replace blades and tooling, ensuring production-level performance.
• Use PK4000 inspection system during setup and production inspections.
• Lead, train, and mentor Centerless Grinding technicians and operators.
• Coordinate daily workflow and allocate resources by priority.
• Ensure quality specifications and ISO 13485 compliance.
• Assist with maintenance and troubleshooting to minimize downtime.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and cost reduction.

Skills

Centerless grinding

CNC grinding

Troubleshooting

Mechanical aptitude

Quality awareness

Leadership mentoring

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Technical education in machining or CNC technology

Tools

Gen-5 grinder

Gen-X grinder

CAM equipment

Tactic equipment

Job description

Pay Rate Low: 30.00 | Pay Rate High: 36.00

Our client is a precision manufacturing organization specializing in high-quality components for the medical device industry. With decades of experience in precision machining and product development, the organization supports projects ranging from early-stage prototypes through full-scale production. They are seeking an experienced Centerless Grinding Department Lead / CNC Grinding Technician to join their manufacturing team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced CNC grinding professional who enjoys hands‑on machining, troubleshooting, process improvement, and supporting other technicians in a high‑precision, quality‑driven manufacturing environment.

Position Details

Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Pay Rate:

$30-36/hour

Direct Hire

Position Overview

The Centerless Grinding Department Lead will support the day-to-day operations of the Centerless Grinding department while remaining actively involved in equipment setup, production, troubleshooting, and process optimization.

This position requires strong mechanical aptitude and approximately 2-4 years of relevant CNC high‑precision manufacturing experience, particularly working with tight tolerances. The ideal candidate will be capable of independently completing CNC grinder setups, maintaining equipment throughout production runs, troubleshooting mechanical and process issues, and making adjustments necessary to maintain production rates and quality requirements.

The Department Lead will also help train and support grinding technicians and operators, coordinate workflow, maintain quality and safety standards, and identify opportunities to improve department productivity.

Key Responsibilities

CNC Grinding Setup & Operation

• Perform complete setups on one or more CNC grinder types, such as Gen-5, Gen-X, CAM, and/or Tactic equipment.
• Set up and operate high-precision grinding equipment to meet established production rates and dimensional requirements.
• Maintain grinding equipment throughout production runs, including operating equipment for extended periods during the shift when required.
• Monitor machine performance and make adjustments to maintain product specifications, tight tolerances, and production efficiency.
• Replace blades and tooling and successfully return equipment to production-level performance.
• Utilize the PK4000 inspection system during setup and production inspection activities.
• Apply a comprehensive understanding of CNC grinding equipment and grinding theory across multiple machine types.
• Troubleshoot setup, equipment, tooling, and production issues with minimal assistance.
• Identify and correct conditions negatively affecting production rates, machine performance, or product quality.

Department Leadership & Production Support

• Lead, train, mentor, and provide technical support to Centerless Grinding technicians and operators.
• Help coordinate daily workflow and allocate resources based on production priorities.
• Support department operations to ensure production goals and customer deadlines are met.
• Provide feedback regarding employee performance and development to department management.
• Work closely with production planning and other manufacturing teams to support timely completion of customer orders.
• Take daily direction from the Grinding Technician Supervisor, Lead Technician, Department Lead, or other appropriate manufacturing leadership.

Quality Control

• Ensure grinding processes and finished components meet customer specifications, dimensional requirements, and applicable quality standards.
• Perform and support inspections throughout machine setup and production.
• Follow established ISO 13485 Quality Management System requirements and internal procedures.
• Identify, communicate, and assist in resolving quality issues, defects, and process deviations.
• Maintain a strong focus on precision, repeatability, and quality throughout the manufacturing process.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Assist with coordinating routine maintenance and repairs for Centerless Grinding equipment.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and equipment issues to minimize production downtime.
• Ensure grinding equipment remains in safe and optimal operating condition.
• Monitor department inventory of tooling, processing aids, replacement components, and other grinding supplies.
• Communicate inventory needs to department management to maintain appropriate stock levels.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve grinding processes, equipment utilization, production rates, quality, and overall department efficiency.
• Participate in troubleshooting and root‑cause problem‑solving activities.
• Support implementation of manufacturing and process improvements.

Safety, Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain a safe working environment by following established company procedures and applicable manufacturing safety requirements.
• Support compliance with quality and regulatory requirements associated with precision manufacturing.
• Maintain accurate production, quality, equipment maintenance, and process documentation according to established procedures.
• Ensure work areas and equipment are maintained in an organized and production‑ready condition.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical education or certification in machining, CNC technology, mechanical systems, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Approximately 2-4 years of relevant CNC high‑precision manufacturing experience, including experience working with tight tolerances.
• Hands‑on experience with centerless grinding and/or CNC grinding equipment strongly preferred.
• Ability to independently perform machine setups and troubleshoot production issues.
• Strong mechanical aptitude is required.
• Mechanical certification is a plus.
• Experience replacing tooling/blades and returning equipment to production specifications.
• Strong understanding of precision measurement, inspection, and manufacturing quality requirements.
• Previous experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, such as medical device, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing, is a plus.
• Experience working within an ISO 13485 or similar regulated quality system is highly desirable.
• Previous lead, supervisory, training, or mentoring experience within a manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to make sound troubleshooting decisions with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining productivity, quality, and safety standards.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on CNC grinding professional who can independently set up and troubleshoot high‑precision grinding equipment while also serving as a technical resource for other team members. Candidates with strong centerless grinding experience, tight‑tolerance manufacturing expertise, mechanical troubleshooting skills, and previous experience in medical device, aerospace, automotive, or another regulated manufacturing environment will be especially well suited for this opportunity.

• This job description is a complete list of all desired skills but not all are required. We strongly encourage candidates who have some of the skills to apply. We look forward to a conversation to learn more about you**