Machining Applications and Technology Lead

Patriot Machine, Inc.; Saint Charles (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with employer contributions

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Job summary

Patriot Machine, Inc. in Saint Charles, MO is seeking a Machining Applications and Technology Lead to guide cutter planning, process development, testing, and technology implementation for aerospace parts.

The role bridges NC Programming, Manufacturing Engineering, tooling, and process development to reduce upfront engineering time, standardize work, and increase first-run success. Strong knowledge of cutting tools and machining is required.

Qualifications

• Experience in cutting tool applications, CNC machining process planning, manufacturing engineering, machining technology, or a similar technical role.
• Mid-level to senior candidates are preferred.
• Applicant must be a U.S. Person and able to work with controlled technical data in aerospace.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support cutter plans for all new jobs routed through NC Programming.
• Assist planning to define tooling approach, machining strategy, and process direction.
• Provide technical direction to machining applications staff and coordinate their work.
• Support NC programmers with cutter/holder selection, reach review, and cutting parameters.
• Lead tooling, process, and technology testing projects with plans and results tracking.
• Build internal recommendations based on data, testing, cost, risk, and feedback.
• Create cutter plans, process notes, and standard work documentation.
• Present tooling, process, and technology recommendations to leadership.

Skills

Cutting tool applications

CNC machining process planning

Machining technology

Tooling selection

Process development

Data-driven decision making

Vendor coordination

Education

Engineering degree preferred

Equivalent hands-on experience considered

Tools

Siemens NX

CAD/CAM systems

NX CAM

Excel

Job description

Patriot Machine is looking for a Machining Applications and Technology Lead to support cutter planning, machining process development, testing, and implementation of new manufacturing technology.

This role bridges NC Programming, Manufacturing Engineering, tooling, machining technology, and process development to reduce upfront engineering time, improve standardization, and increase first-run success.

This is a working lead position. The person in this role will provide technical direction to machining applications support staff while also developing cutter plans, supporting process decisions, leading trials, reviewing data, and helping implement new tooling and technology.

The right candidate should have strong knowledge of cutting tools, machining methods, cutter geometry, cutting conditions, process testing, and practical manufacturing application. This is not a full-time CNC programming role, but the candidate must understand CNC machining well enough to support programmers, manufacturing engineering, machinists, vendors, and leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and support cutter plans for all new jobs routed through NC Programming
• Assist Manufacturing Engineering and NC Programming during initial job planning to help define tooling approach, machining strategy, and process direction
• Provide technical direction to machining applications support staff and help coordinate their work
• Support NC programmers with cutter selection, holder selection, reach review, cutting parameters, and machining process decisions
• Review tooling approaches for 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis milling, including high-speed machining, thin-wall parts, large complex aerospace parts, and advanced holemaking
• Use Siemens NX to review tool reach, clearance, and general usability of selected tools
• Analyze machine data, production results, tooling trial results, and process performance to support recommendations
• Lead tooling, process, and technology testing projects, including test plans, trial support, results tracking, and final recommendations
• Evaluate, recommend, and help implement cutting tools, advanced machining techniques, software, equipment, or technology that improves manufacturing capability
• Build technical justification and purchase proposals for new tooling, software, equipment, or technology
• Work with cutting tool vendors and internal teams to review new tooling options, support trials, compare results, and build internal recommendations
• Create cutter plans, process notes, lessons learned, training material, test summaries, and standard work documents
• Present tooling, process, testing, and technology recommendations to programmers, Manufacturing Engineering, shop leadership, and other internal teams

Role Focus

This is an internal machining applications and technology role focused on cutter planning, process development, testing, and implementation of machining improvements that support NC Programming, Manufacturing Engineering, and the broader organization.

This role is not intended to be tool crib management, purchasing, vendor sales, quality, manufacturing engineering, or full-time CNC programming. The person in this role will work closely with those groups, but the main responsibility is improving how tooling decisions, machining strategies, testing, and process changes are developed, documented, and implemented across the organization.

This is a planning, process development, and implementation role with shop-floor involvement as needed to support trials, testing, troubleshooting, and feedback.

Technical And Process Knowledge

Candidates should have strong knowledge in several of the following areas:

• Cutting tool selection, cutter geometry, and tooling application
• Speeds, feeds, cutting conditions, and machining strategy
• Tool holders, reach, stickout, rigidity, and clearance
• Holemaking applications, including drilling, reaming, countersinking, thread milling, and related aerospace machining requirements
• 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis milling concepts
• High-speed machining, thin-wall machining, and large complex machined components
• Aluminum and high-temp aerospace alloy machining concepts
• CNC machining process planning
• Reading and understanding drawings, models, and manufacturing requirements
• Machine data analysis, production result review, and tooling trial comparison
• Process testing, test planning, and documenting results
• Working with programmers, Manufacturing Engineering, machinists, vendors, and leadership to define practical process direction
• Documenting standards, recommendations, lessons learned, and training material

Software, Data, And Technology

Experience with the following is preferred:

• Siemens NX
• CAD/CAM systems and tool data
• CNC machine data or production data analysis
• Microsoft Excel or similar tools for comparing data and documenting recommendations
• Manufacturing technology evaluation and implementation
• Process modeling, cutting force analysis, vibration, chatter, machine kinematics, or simulation tools

Hands-on Siemens NX programming experience is not required. The candidate should be willing and able to use NX to review tool reach, clearance, and usability. General NX CAM knowledge is helpful, but not required.

Experience with process modeling, simulation, cutting force analysis, vibration, or chatter is preferred, but candidates with the right machining background and willingness to learn will also be considered.

Vendor, Trial, And Technology Support

• Communicate technical needs clearly to vendors and internal teams
• Review vendor recommendations with a practical manufacturing mindset
• Plan and support tooling, process, software, or technology trials
• Track trial results and compare performance
• Build internal recommendations based on data, testing, cost, risk, and team feedback
• Explain why a cutter, holder, parameter, process, or technology direction should be used
• Help turn successful trials into standard work, training, or repeatable process guidance

Qualifications

• Experience in cutting tool applications, CNC machining process planning, manufacturing engineering, machining technology, or a similar technical role.
• Experience similar to a cutting tool applications engineer is strongly preferred.
• Experience leading technical projects, trials, process improvement efforts, or a small technical team is preferred.
• Degree in engineering, manufacturing technology, or a related field is preferred, but not required.
• Equivalent hands-on experience will be considered.
• Mid-level to senior candidates are preferred.
• Applicant must be a U.S. Person.
• Must be able to work with controlled technical data in an aerospace manufacturing environment.

The Person We’re Looking For

• A strong communicator who can work with programmers, machinists, engineers, vendors, and leadership
• Practical, hands-on, and able to apply tooling knowledge to real manufacturing problems
• Data-driven when comparing tooling options, cutting parameters, trial results, and process performance
• Comfortable challenging existing methods in a professional way
• Able to explain decisions around cutter selection, holder selection, cutting parameters, machining strategy, and technology direction
• Comfortable building buy-in across multiple groups
• Organized enough to turn test results and lessons learned into usable standards
• Curious about new tooling, machining methods, software, equipment, and manufacturing technology
• Focused on reducing upfront planning time, improving standardization, and increasing first-run success

Company Profile

Patriot Machine, Inc. is a technologically advanced aerospace manufacturer headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri. We supply complex structural parts and assemblies made from aluminum, titanium, and steel to major aircraft manufacturers. Our culture of innovation and continuous improvement attracts skilled people who are looking for a challenge. We offer opportunities to learn, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace manufacturing by applying practical approaches to problem-solving.

Patriot Machine is a woman-owned business with more than 190 employees and 277,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. Employees have the opportunity to work alongside industry experts in a modern manufacturing environment.

• Patriot Machine offers an excellent benefits package including health, dental, vision, life/disability, 401(k) with employer contributions, paid vacation, and holidays.