Manufacturing Programmer

Socket.dev; Mequon (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Coverage (ICHRA)

Dental & Vision Insurance

Disability & Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays & PTO

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a Manufacturing Programmer to join our Engineering team in Mequon, Wisconsin. The role focuses on creating, optimizing, and maintaining CNC programs for sheet metal fabrication and machining operations, including laser, plasma, brake press, milling, and turning.

The candidate will convert engineering designs into production-ready programs, maximize material utilization, and support on-time delivery while collaborating with engineering, scheduling, and production teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in CNC programming or manufacturing engineering.
• Strong ability to read engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Solid understanding of machining and fabrication processes.
• Experience creating programs from DXF, STEP, or CAD files.
• Strong problem solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create CNC programs for laser, plasma, brake press, milling, and turning operations.
• Develop nest sheets and optimize material usage to reduce scrap.
• Verify geometry, tolerances, and processing requirements before production.
• Support machinists with setup documentation and program revisions.
• Maintain revision control of manufacturing programs and documentation.

Job description

About The Role:

We are seeking a Manufacturing Programmer to join our Engineering team. This role is responsible for creating, optimizing, and maintaining CNC programs for our sheet metal fabrication and machining operations.

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Engineering, this position serves as a critical link between engineering, scheduling, and production. The Manufacturing Programmer will develop laser, plasma, brake press, milling, and turning programs while maximizing material utilization, improving manufacturing efficiency, and supporting on-time delivery.

The ideal candidate will possess strong CAD/CAM skills, a solid understanding of manufacturing processes, and the ability to transform engineering designs into efficient, production-ready programs.

Key Responsibilities:

Sheet Metal Programming

• Create CNC programs for laser and plasma cutting equipment from DXF and CAD-generated files using Trumpf Boost software.
• Verify part geometry, dimensions, tolerances, and machine processing requirements before release to production.
• Develop and maintain machine-ready programs that maximize quality, throughput, and operator efficiency.
• Troubleshoot and resolve programming-related issues on the shop floor.

Nesting & Material Optimization

• Create production nest sheets based on manufacturing schedules, material availability, and customer delivery requirements.
• Optimize nesting layouts to maximize material utilization and minimize scrap.
• Coordinate with production scheduling to prioritize nests and ensure timely program availability.
• Manage material libraries and nesting parameters within Boost.

Brake Press Programming

• Develop brake press programs using Trumpf Boost.
• Determine bend sequences, tooling requirements, and setup strategies.
• Verify manufacturability and identify potential forming challenges before release to production.
• Support press brake operators with setup documentation and program revisions.

CNC Machining Programming

• Create and maintain CNC programs for Haas vertical machining centers and CNC lathes using Autodesk Fusion.
• Develop toolpaths, tooling strategies, and machining sequences for efficient production.
• Verify programs through simulation and program validation processes.
• Work with machinists and operators to optimize cycle times, setups, and tooling performance.

Manufacturing Engineering Support

• Review engineering drawings and collaborate with engineers to improve manufacturability.
• Identify opportunities to reduce cycle times, material waste, and production bottlenecks.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout fabrication and machining operations.
• Maintain revision control of all manufacturing programs and documentation.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in CNC programming, manufacturing engineering, sheet metal fabrication, machining, or a related field.
• Proficiency reading and interpreting engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Strong understanding of machining and fabrication processes.
• Experience creating manufacturing programs from DXF, STEP, or CAD files.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Trumpf Boost software.
• Experience programming laser cutting equipment.
• Experience with sheet metal nesting and material optimization.
• Experience programming brake press operations.
• Experience with Autodesk Fusion CAM.
• Experience programming Haas CNC milling machines and lathes.
• Knowledge of tooling selection, machine setup, feeds and speeds, and manufacturing best practices.

What We Offer (Benefits Begin After 30 Days):

• Innovative Health Coverage: Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) providing an age-based monthly pre-tax reimbursement, plus spouse ($272/month) and child ($135/month) reimbursements.
• Comprehensive Insurance: Dental & Vision Insurance through Delta Dental, plus voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance.
• Financial & Savings: Flexible Spending Account (FSA and a 401(k) Retirement Plan (eligible after 90 days).
• Time Off: 9 Paid Holidays annually plus a competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) package.