Manufacturing Engineer

Accelera; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Accelera is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer with deep CNC programming expertise to evolve high-level production workflows and drive turnkey machining solutions. You will design, optimize, and validate CNC programs (Mastercam) for mills/lathe operations, collaborate across shop floor teams, and implement automation to boost throughput and reliability.

The role emphasizes hands-on shop-floor engagement, travel to client facilities, and close coordination with programmers, machinists, controls

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Extensive CNC programming and machining operations experience.
• Knowledge of CNC workflows for mills and lathes.
• Proven ability to create and improve CNC programs for production.
• Excellent tool selection, feeds/speeds, fixturing, and workholding fundamentals.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve machining and process issues.
• Experience operating CNC equipment during programming, validation, and optimization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read blueprints, GD&T, and manufacturing documentation.
• Excellent communication and teamwork; willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Design, code, validate, and refine CNC machining workflows for various production needs.
• Generate and adjust CNC code using Mastercam alongside other CAM software tools.
• Establish machining methodologies, toolpaths, operational parameters, tooling, workholding, and fixture setups.
• Enhance current operations to boost cycle speed, total output, tool longevity, part precision, and overall machine utilization.
• Engineer and perfect turnkey machining and automation solutions from the initial design phase through to final production.
• Provide assistance during machine and process validation, system run-offs, setup, and client acceptance testing.
• Resolve machining complications such as part quality defects, tool degradation, vibration, dimensional drift, cycle delays, chip management, and equipment performance.
• Collaborate closely with CNC programmers, machinists, controls engineers, automation technicians, and clients to overcome process hurdles.
• Create standardized operating procedures and technical documentation for production and client-specific tasks.
• Select the most suitable cutting tools, workholding devices, fixtures, and machining strategies for new project requirements.
• Evaluate production metrics to uncover opportunities for process enhancement and expenditure reduction.
• Facilitate the integration of CNC hardware with robotics, automated systems, material handling, and other manufacturing infrastructure.
• Engage in the commissioning of machinery and automation systems during production launch phases.
• Execute process trials and record findings, key takeaways, and suggestions for future improvements.
• Support the troubleshooting and performance tuning of CNC equipment on-site when necessary.
• Deliver technical guidance during client-side deployments, production rollouts, and process development stages.
• Stay informed regarding the latest machining innovations, tooling developments, CAM techniques, and industry best practices.

Skills

CNC programming

Mastercam

Process development

Machining optimization

CNC milling

CNC turning

Toolpath optimization

Feeds and speeds

Cutting tool selection

Workholding/fixturing

Cycle-time reduction

Process troubleshooting

Turnkey manufacturing systems

Robotics & automation

Production launch

Root-cause analysis

Continuous improvement

Customer technical support

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Mastercam

Haas CNC machinery

Okuma CNC machinery

Fanuc control systems

gibbscam

3D Modeling

Job description

We are searching for a skilled Manufacturing Engineer who possesses deep expertise in CNC programming, process refinement, and machining efficiency to help drive the evolution of our high-level production workflows. The perfect applicant will bring years of practical CNC programming experience, ideally utilizing Mastercam, and demonstrate a consistent track record of building, refining, and diagnosing complex machining operations. Proficiency in managing turnkey automation and integrated machining systems is highly valued for this position. This role is designed for an engineer who bridges the gap between theoretical engineering and shop-floor reality, collaborating effectively with programmers, machinists, automation specialists, and clients to build robust, high-output production systems.

About the Role

We are searching for a skilled Manufacturing Engineer who possesses deep expertise in CNC programming, process refinement, and machining efficiency to help drive the evolution of our high-level production workflows. The perfect applicant will bring years of practical CNC programming experience, ideally utilizing Mastercam, and demonstrate a consistent track record of building, refining, and diagnosing complex machining operations. Proficiency in managing turnkey automation and integrated machining systems is highly valued for this position. This role is designed for an engineer who bridges the gap between theoretical engineering and shop-floor reality, collaborating effectively with programmers, machinists, automation specialists, and clients to build robust, high-output production systems.

Core Responsibilities

• Design, code, validate, and refine CNC machining workflows for various production needs.
• Generate and adjust CNC code using Mastercam alongside other relevant CAM software tools.
• Establish machining methodologies, toolpaths, operational parameters, tooling, workholding, and fixture setups.
• Enhance current operations to boost cycle speed, total output, tool longevity, part precision, and overall machine utilization.
• Engineer and perfect turnkey machining and automation solutions from the initial design phase through to final production.
• Provide assistance during machine and process validation, system run-offs, setup, and client acceptance testing.
• Resolve machining complications such as part quality defects, tool degradation, vibration, dimensional drift, cycle delays, chip management, and equipment performance.
• Collaborate closely with CNC programmers, machinists, controls engineers, automation technicians, and clients to overcome process hurdles.
• Create standardized operating procedures and technical documentation for production and client-specific tasks.
• Select the most suitable cutting tools, workholding devices, fixtures, and machining strategies for new project requirements.
• Evaluate production metrics to uncover opportunities for process enhancement and expenditure reduction.
• Facilitate the integration of CNC hardware with robotics, automated systems, material handling, and other manufacturing infrastructure.
• Engage in the commissioning of machinery and automation systems during production launch phases.
• Execute process trials and record findings, key takeaways, and suggestions for future improvements.
• Support the troubleshooting and performance tuning of CNC equipment on-site when necessary.
• Deliver technical guidance during client-side deployments, production rollouts, and process development stages.
• Stay informed regarding the latest machining innovations, tooling developments, CAM techniques, and industry best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering, or a comparable level of hands-on industry experience.
• Extensive professional background in CNC programming and machining operations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of CNC machining workflows, specifically involving mills or lathes.
• Proven history of creating and improving CNC programs for production environments.
• Solid grasp of cutting tool selection, feed and speed optimization, workholding, fixturing, and machining basics.
• Capacity to systematically diagnose and resolve machining and process-related issues.
• Direct experience operating CNC equipment during the programming, validation, and optimization phases.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering blueprints, GD&T, and technical manufacturing documentation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with clients and cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to work directly on the shop floor and travel to client facilities as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with the following technologies is highly advantageous:

• Mastercam for programming, toolpath creation, optimization, and post-processing.
• HAAS CNC machinery.
• Okuma CNC machinery.
• Fanuc control systems.
• Multi-axis machining operations.
• 4- and 5-axis CNC machining.
• CNC turning and milling.
• High-speed machining techniques.
• Advanced workholding and fixture design.
• Robotic machine tending.
• Automated material handling systems.
• CNC machine integration.
• Machine vision systems.
• Process simulation and verification software.
• Tool management and tool-life enhancement.
• High-volume production machining environments.
• Turnkey automation project delivery.

Turnkey Process Development

A primary objective of this role involves the creation and refinement of comprehensive turnkey manufacturing solutions. The Manufacturing Engineer is expected to maintain a holistic view of the entire production cycle, including material handling, machine configuration, CNC programming, tool management, workholding, robotics, cycle-time efficiency, coolant management, quality inspection, process repeatability, operator interface, and total throughput. The successful candidate will pinpoint operational bottlenecks and implement practical solutions that foster a faster, more dependable, and more profitable manufacturing environment.

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking an individual who balances engineering theory with tangible machining experience. The ideal candidate is not confined to a desk but is comfortable on the shop floor, validating programs, adjusting toolpaths, modifying cutting parameters, diagnosing issues, and working alongside technicians to ensure processes run smoothly. You should be able to critically evaluate a machining process to determine if it can be accelerated, made more reliable, cost-effective, higher quality, or automated. A strong foundation in Mastercam and platforms like HAAS or Okuma is a significant asset.

Key Competencies

• CNC programming
• Mastercam
• Process development
• Machining optimization
• CNC milling and turning
• Toolpath optimization
• Feeds and speeds
• Cutting tool selection
• Workholding and fixturing
• Cycle-time reduction
• Process troubleshooting
• Turnkey manufacturing systems
• Robotics and automation
• Production launch
• Root-cause analysis
• Continuous improvement
• Customer technical support

Travel & Work Environment

This role requires hands-on engagement within manufacturing facilities and may necessitate travel to client locations for process development, machine validation, installation, commissioning, and production launches. Applicants must be comfortable working in proximity to CNC machinery, automated systems, tooling, cutting fluids, and other industrial hardware.

What We Offer

This position provides the chance to manage challenging CNC machining and automation projects from initial concept through to production, with deep involvement in programming, process design, turnkey integration, and optimization. The successful candidate will work with cutting-edge CNC equipment and automation technology across diverse manufacturing applications, directly influencing machine performance, production efficiency, and client satisfaction. If you are an experienced CNC programmer or manufacturing engineer who understands both the technical and practical aspects of machining—and you enjoy making processes faster, better, and more reliable,we want to hear from you.

You should be proficient in:

• GD&T
• Equipment Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting Skills
• CNC Programming
• G-Code
• Design for Assembly (DFA)
• m-Code

Machines & technologies you will use:

• 3D Modeling
• gibbscam
• mastercam