Manufacturing Engineer (CNC Applications Engineer)

Rocketdyne; Florida; On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocketdyne is seeking a Senior Specialist, Manufacturing Engineer / CNC Applications Engineer to join the high‑tech 3D metal additive team in Daytona, FL. You will transform complex CAD models into production‑ready machinings, program 5‑axis CNC machines, and coordinate with engineering and quality to ensure tightly controlled tolerances.

The role requires mastery of 5‑axis CNC programming, EDM and manual machining, plus strong collaboration across additive and traditional manufacturing domains.

Qualifications

• Mastery of 5-axis CNC programming and complex part programming.
• Experience with EDM operations and high-precision machining.
• Ability to translate CAD models into production-ready tooling and processes.

Responsibilities

• Proven 5-axis CNC programming, setup, prove-out, and complex workholding.
• Interpreting drawings to ensure builds meet project specs and tolerances.
• Design and fabricate jigs and tooling to support complex assemblies.
• Collaborate with Mechanical Eng. on DFMA to optimize part production.
• Write and optimize CNC programs for cutting, milling, drilling, and shaping.
• Troubleshoot and maintain equipment; perform routine maintenance.
• Quality checks to ensure finished parts meet specs and standards.
• Manage inventory for machinist consumables and stock material.
• Document programs and setups for future reference and compliance.
• Stay updated on software and equipment advancements.

Skills

5-axis CNC programming

CNC setup

EDM operations

Manual machining

Quality inspection

Tools

Mastercam

SolidWorks

CamWorks

CMM

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Manufacturing Engineer (CNC Applications Engineer)

Additive Manufacturing Full Time Regular MFG Engineering

5 days ago Requisition ID: 1149

Salary Range: $100,000.00 To $120,000.00 Annually

Moving Space Forward

Rocketdyne is back - and we're just getting started.

We are unleashing decades of unrivaled flight heritage to power the most critical missions in space today, from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to an MMRTG journeying to Saturn's largest moon. National security space is shifting to proliferated constellations, creating compounding demand for exactly what we build.

If you want to do the most important work of your career at a company where One, Trust, and Bold are a way of life, Rocketdyne is your place.

The Role

The Senior Specialist, Manufacturing Engineer / CNC Applications Engineer will help shape where Rocketdyne goes next.

Rocketdyne is seeking a master-level Senior Specialist, Manufacturing Engineer / CNC Applications Engineer to join our high-tech 3D metal additive team. This is a high-impact role designed for a "maker" with a deep technical pedigree in both traditional and cutting-edge manufacturing. You will be the primary resource for the manufacturing, engineering & quality teams, responsible for transforming complex designs into high-precision physical hardware. You are an expert in 5-axis CNC machining, EDM operations, and manual machining.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, intellectually curious and comfortable operating in ambiguity. You know how to take a complex strategic question, structure the analysis, find the

Role Location - Daytona, Florida

Why This Role Matters

• Metal additive manufacturing enables complex hardware, but a successful print is only part of the manufacturing journey. Precision machining, effective workholding, and reliable inspection are essential to turning printed components into hardware that meets demanding engineering requirements.


• In this role, you will connect additive manufacturing with precision machining- helping the team deliver complex components, solve difficult manufacturing challenges, and develop repeatable processes that support future production.

Success in this role looks like:

You turn complex metal additive builds into precision, production-ready hardware—and create reliable processes others can repeat. Specifically, you:

• Deliver hardware that meets requirements. Develop and execute machining and finishing processes that bring additively manufactured components into compliance with engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, surface-finish requirements, and inspection criteria.


• Own the path from printed part to finished component. Translate CAD models and drawings into practical manufacturing plans, including machining sequence, workholding, tooling, CNC programming, and inspection coordination.


• Solve the challenges unique to additive hardware. Anticipate and address irregular printed surfaces, limited machining allowance, difficult-to-access features, part distortion, and workholding constraints before they cause scrap, rework, or schedule delays.


• Make complex machining repeatable. Develop, prove out, and optimize 5-axis CNC programs and supporting EDM or manual machining operations. Capture proven methods in clear setup sheets, tooling lists, and controlled manufacturing documentation.


• Improve manufacturability through collaboration. Partner with additive manufacturing, mechanical engineering, and quality teams to resolve technical issues and improve designs, datum strategies, machining access, and inspection approaches.


• Deliver measurable process improvements. Establish performance baselines and reduce avoidable setup time, machining cycle time, scrap, and rework without compromising safety or quality.


• Build capability across the team. Share practical knowledge, support machinists and engineers during challenging setups and first-piece production, and help the department develop consistent manufacturing practices.


• Take initiative and follow through. Ask thoughtful questions, identify risks early, test solutions methodically, and carry problems through to a documented resolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Proven 5-axis CNC programming, setup, prove-out, and complex workholding.


• Interpreting engineering drawings, technical blueprints and CAD models to ensure all builds meet project specifications and requirements.


• Design and fabricate customs jigs, fixtures, and specialized tooling to support complex assemblies and unique testing requirements.


• Collaborate and provide feedback to Mechanical Engineering on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) to optimize part production.


• Writing, testing, and optimizing CNC programs to control machine operations such as cutting, milling, drilling, and shaping materials.


• Troubleshooting and maintaining equipment, performing routine maintenance, and resolving issues during production.


• Conducting quality control checks to ensure finished products meet exact specifications and industry standards.


• Manage inventory for machinist-specific consumables including cutting tools, insert, coolants, resins, filaments, and stock material.


• Documenting programs and machine setups for future reference, production standardization and compliance.


• Staying updated on software and equipment advancements to maintain efficiency and accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defense, space, propulsion, national security or another complex technology-driven industry


• Experience in a high-precision machine shop, R&D lab, or prototype environment.


• Proficiency in the use of precision measurement tools such as micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, CMM / scanners and other inspection technology.


• Hands-on experience with 3D metal parts (copper, aluminum, titanium, Inconel, other.)


• Diverse CAD/CAM software experience for toolpath generation and model navigation: (Mastercam, SolidWorks / Camworks.)


• Project Management experience a plus.

• Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off. 1st shift 7am to 4pm