CNC Programmer – 5-Axis Milling (1st Shift)

Kelly Services; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Benefits

First shift salary and hours

Job summary

Kelly Services is seeking an experienced CNC Programmer for 1st shift in Rockford, IL. You will develop, verify, and optimize CNC programs for large milling machines, ensuring tight tolerances and high-quality finishes while collaborating with engineering and manufacturing teams.

This permanent, full-time role requires 3–5 years of experience with 5-axis CNC milling, strong GD&T proficiency, and hands-on setup and validation. Excellent benefits accompany a stable daytime schedule.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of CNC programming experience on large CNC milling machines or heavy industrial manufacturing equipment.
• Proven hands-on experience programming and optimizing 5-axis CNC milling machines is required.
• Solid understanding of CNC controls, machining practices, tooling selection, speeds, feeds, and cutting strategies.
• Able to read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, routings, and GD&T.
• Experience with machine setup, workholding, alignment, and precision measurement.
• Experience supporting program prove-outs and working closely with CNC machinists during production.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, or off shifts as production needs arise.

Responsibilities

• Interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, routings, and GD&T specifications to design machining strategies and create CNC programs.
• Create, edit, verify, and optimize CNC programs to enhance cycle times, quality, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Develop tooling, workholding, and machining strategies for complex 5-axis CNC milling operations.
• Support machinists during machine setup, program prove-out, and first-piece validation.
• Collaborate with machinists to troubleshoot programming and machining issues, making real-time adjustments as needed.
• Optimize machining processes to boost productivity, tool life, and part quality.
• Assist with the safe positioning/setup of large workpieces using cranes, fixtures, and rigging.
• Verify tooling requirements and support tool management for CNC machines.
• Inspect and validate machined components using precision measuring equipment.
• Maintain accurate program documentation and revision control.
• Follow all safety protocols and quality standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for manufacturing performance and efficiency.

Skills

5-axis programming

CNC milling

GD&T interpretation

Machine setup

Troubleshooting

Communication

Teamwork

Job description

CNC Programmer – 1st Shift | $30-$35/hr | Excellent Benefits

Are you an experienced CNC Programmer with 5-axis milling experience? We are seeking a talented professional for a permanent, full-time opportunity with an outstanding benefits package. You’ll develop, verify, and optimize CNC programs for large-scale CNC milling machines, manufacturing complex components with tight tolerances and superior surface finishes.

Position Overview:

As a CNC Programmer, you’ll play a key role in maximizing machine performance, quality, and productivity. You’ll work closely with machining, engineering, and manufacturing teams to develop efficient machining strategies, support machine setup and program validation, troubleshoot machining issues, and drive continual process improvements—all while ensuring safety and compliance with engineering specifications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, routings, and GD&T specifications to design machining strategies and create CNC programs.

• Create, edit, verify, and optimize CNC programs to enhance cycle times, quality, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Develop tooling, workholding, and machining strategies for complex 5-axis CNC milling operations.

• Support machinists during machine setup, program prove-out, and first-piece validation.

• Collaborate with machinists to troubleshoot programming and machining issues, making real-time adjustments as needed.

• Optimize machining processes to boost productivity, tool life, and part quality.

• Assist with the safe positioning/setup of large workpieces using cranes, fixtures, and rigging.

• Verify tooling requirements and support tool management for CNC machines.

• Inspect and validate machined components using precision measuring equipment.

• Maintain accurate program documentation and revision control.

• Follow all safety protocols and quality standards.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for manufacturing performance and efficiency.

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of CNC programming experience on large CNC milling machines or heavy industrial manufacturing equipment.

• Proven hands‑on experience programming and optimizing 5‑axis CNC milling machines is required.

• Solid understanding of CNC controls, machining practices, tooling selection, speeds, feeds, and cutting strategies.

• Able to read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, routings, and GD&T.

• Experience with machine setup, workholding, alignment, and precision measurement.

• Experience supporting program prove‑outs and working closely with CNC machinists during production.

• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.

• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, or off shifts as production needs arise.

What We Offer:

• Hourly pay: $35/hr, based on experience.

• 1st shift schedule.

• Full‑time, permanent position.

• Outstanding benefits package (details provided upon interview).

• Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short‑term disability.
• As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account.
• In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Why Kelly Engineering?

Your engineering skills are in demand, but how do you find the right fit? Easy. At Kelly Engineering, our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. We connect you with leading organizations where you can collaborate on innovative projects, work with cutting‑edge technologies and accelerate your growth. Whether you prefer the variety and flexibility of short‑term projects or are looking for a long‑term opportunity, we’re here to guide you to the next step in your engineering career.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affou positive Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.