CNC Process Programmer – Swiss, Lathe & Milling Automation

The Lee Company; Westbrook (CT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lee Company is seeking a skilled CNC programmer to turn metal into precision. You will program lathes and mills, optimize tool setups, and ensure overnight, lights-out runs, collaborating with Tool Design and Manufacturing to refine tooling strategies.

You should have strong CNC knowledge, GD&T, and the ability to diagnose machining issues, read blueprints, and document production data for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; an associate degree is ideal.
• Strong knowledge of metal cutting and CNC machining processes.
• Diagnose machining issues including tool wear and rough finishes.
• Proficient with CNC controls and precision measuring tools.
• Able to read blueprints and document production data.

Responsibilities

• Program CNC lathes, Swiss lathes, and mills; develop overnight, continuous runs.
• Design and document operation sequences, tooling layouts, and setup instructions.
• Align and code steps for tool operations, speeds, feeds, and positions.
• Prove out programs; monitor setups and first-piece runs for quality.
• Revise programs to correct errors, adapt to new tooling, reduce cycle time and cost.
• Collaborate with Tool Design and Manufacturing on tooling designs.
• Contribute to robotic automation development for unattended production.

Skills

CNC Programming

G-code & M-code

GD&T

Troubleshooting

Production machine setups

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree preferred

Tools

CNC controls

Precision measuring equipment

Job description

At The Lee Company, your code turns metal into precision. Picture a typical day: you start with a challenging print, review machine specifications, map out the operation flow, then translate it all into clean, efficient G/M-code. By mid-morning, you’re aligning tooling, feeds, and speeds, ready to prove out your program on the floor. The afternoon brings collaboration—working with Tool Design and Manufacturing to refine tooling strategies—then monitoring a lights-out run you set up the night before. You leave knowing the overnight process and robotics cell will keep humming.

What You’ll Do

• Program CNC lathes, Swiss lathes, and mills using current machining practices; develop new processes that enable reliable overnight, continuous (lights-out) runs.
• Design and document operation sequences, tooling layouts, and machine setup instructions from part drawings, machine specs, and electronic control data, applying established methods and standards.
• Align and code steps for tool operations, speeds, feeds, and workpiece positions to match planned sequences.
• Prove out programs on the machines when needed; monitor setups and first-piece runs to validate methodology, tooling, and part quality.
• Revise and optimize programs to correct errors, adapt to new tooling, improve surface finish, and reduce cycle time and cost.
• Partner closely with Tool Design and Manufacturing teams to plan or update tooling designs and arrangements for new and existing work.
• Contribute to robotic automation development and integration to support unattended production.

What You Bring

• High school diploma, GED, or trade school education; an associate degree in manufacturing technologies (or similar) is ideal.
• Solid knowledge of metal cutting and CNC machining processes.
• Diagnostic skill for machining issues including tool failure, rough finishes, and chip accumulation.
• Proficiency with CNC controls, precision measuring equipment, hand tools, and specialized trade tools.
• Comfort using computers for data entry and document creation.
• Mechanical aptitude paired with strong math capability.
• Ability to read blueprints, proofread documents, train others, and complete production paperwork.

Core Competencies

• GD&T
• CNC Programming
• G-code and M-code
• Equipment and process troubleshooting
• Production machine setups

Machines & Technologies

• CNC Swiss Lathe: Star, Citizen, Tsugami, Eurotech, Tornos
• 5+ Axis CNC Lathe: Mazak, Okuma, Eurotech, DMG Mori Seiki, Nakamura