Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Clear Destination Inc.; Loves Park (IL); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Destination Inc. is seeking an Manufacturing Engineering Technician to bridge shop-floor production with digital automation and manufacturing engineering. You will generate G-Code, design fixtures, and support workflows to optimize machining and workholding processes.

Responsibilities include solving real-time production challenges, performing simulations, and collaborating with manufacturing, sales, and engineering to improve efficiency and throughput.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on CNC setup, operation, and programming experience.
• Associate's degree in Manufacturing Engineering or related technical discipline preferred; high school diploma required.

Responsibilities

• Generate G-Code using CAD/CAM software for CNC mills, lathes, and grinders.
• Create 3-D models and production drawings for workholding components, jigs, and templates using Creo.
• Track cycle times, scrap rates, and equipment downtime to improve efficiency.
• Generate manufacturing process routings and product quotations with target margins for sales inquiries.

Skills

CNC programming

CAM software

CAD modeling

Blueprint reading

GD&T

Education

Associate's degree

High school diploma

Tools

Creo

Esprit

Fusion 360

Creo NC

Job description

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Technician bridges the gap between physical shop-floor production, digital automation, and manufacturing engineering. This role optimizes manufacturing workflows by combining hands-on CNC programming and fixture design. You will refine machining processes, generate G-Code CNC programs, support workholding operations through routings and processing, and solve real-time production challenges.

Key Responsibilities

CNC Programming

• Generate G-Code: Write and optimize multi-axis programs using CAD/CAM software for CNC mills, lathes, and grinding equipment.
• Select Tooling:Specify optimal cutting tools, workholding fixtures, speeds, and feeds for a variety of raw materials.
• Prove Out: Perform digital simulations and dry runs to prevent machine crashes.

Workholding Product Support

• Order Processing: Generate manufacturing process routings to ensure cost-effective, high-quality precision components.
• Quotations: Create product quotations with target margin for sales/customer inquiries.
• Customer Oriented: Communicate with manufacturing, customers and sales team to maintain high customer satisfaction.

Manufacturing Engineering Support

• Troubleshoot: Resolve production bottlenecks, part defects, or machine alarms.
• Design: Create 3-D models and production drawings for workholding components, jigs, and templates using Creo CAD software.
• Analyze Data: Track cycle times, scrap rates, and equipment downtime to improve efficiency.
• Automation: Gradually assist senior team members in automating routine file management or data collection as skills grow.
• Lean Manufacturing: Participate on continuous improvement initiatives and kaizen teams, apply lean techniques of problem solving including; PDCA, Five-Whys, Fish Bone Diagrams, Pareto Charts, Gemba, Poka-Yoke, 6S, TPM, OEE, VSM, etc.
• Tooling: Work with tooling vendors to identify opportunities for testing and machining efficiency improvement opportunities.

Qualifications & Skills

Technical Requirements

• CAM Software: Familiarity with Esprit, Fusion 360, Creo NC, or similar platforms.
• CAD Modeling: PTC Creo experience or similar solid-model CAD software for designing and detailing mechanical elements for machine components.
• Blueprint Reading: Understanding of engineering drawings and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).

Experience & Education

• Experience: 2+ years of hands-on CNC setup, operation, and programming experience.
• Education: Associate's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent combination of hands-on machining experience and education will be considered. High school diploma or GED required.