Numerical Control Programmer

Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII, is seeking an experienced environment owner for the Siemens NX CAM environment. The role focuses on maintaining templates, post processors, and library tools to automate NC programming and support production through tested deployments.

You will collaborate with NC programmers, validate changes in DEV before production, develop post processors for Siemens, Fanuc and Heidenhain, and contribute to digital twin and tooling standards to enable frontline

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 9 years of exempt experience (or equivalent).
• Master's Degree with 7 years of exempt professional experience.
• Equivalency: 2-year program with 2 years exempt or 4 years non-exempt work.
• Military Paygrade E-5 or higher acceptable.
• High School/GED with 4+ years in manufacturing, shipbuilding, or military experience.

Responsibilities

• Own NX CAM environment: templates, libraries, tooling databases, and config.
• Troubleshoot toolpaths and posts; reproduce issues and deliver fixes.
• Develop/maintain Siemens post processors for Siemens, Fanuc, Heidenhain.
• Develop and maintain Siemens Digital Twin for machine simulation.
• Create CAM templates and standards for frontline programmers.
• Build VERICUT kits and define verification standards.
• Develop engineering tools with VBA, C#, C++, and TCL; document processes.

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Equivalent Certification/Experience

Tools

NX CAM

Post Builder

Post Configurator

VERICUT

Siemens NX

C#

Visual Studio

C++

TCL

Job description

With more than 25,000 employees - including third-, fourth- and even fifth-generation shipbuilders - HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division is the largest industrial employer in Virginia. We’re the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. Our diverse and innovative team of professionals ranges from skilled trades to project managers, engineers and software developers to solution architects, technical subject matter experts, and system users. We collaborate together at the forefront of technology, manufacturing, and integration of the most powerful and survivable naval ships in the world.

The Role

This Role will serve as the owner of the Siemens NX CAM environment for the NC programming team. The focus will be on maintaining the assets that automate and enable manufacturing such as, post processors (Post configurator & Post Builder), machine kit simulations, templates, method libraries, and additional tools. All changes, upgrades, and updates should be thoroughly tested in a DEV environment prior to releasing to the production team.

Core Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Environment owner for NX CAM: evaluate and implement changes to templates, method libraries, tooling databases, and environment variables; manage impact and change control.
• Provide expert‑level toolpath and post troubleshooting: interpret NC programmer intent, reproduce issues, and deliver fixes or guidance.
• Develop, configure, and maintain post processors for Siemens, Fanuc, and Heidenhain; implement/test machine options, probing/custom subroutines, and shop G/M code standards.
• Develop and maintain the Siemens Digital Twin for Machine Simulation within Siemens NX.
• Create/maintain CAM templates and programming standards that enable front‑line programmers.

VERICUT Simulation:

• Build and maintain VERICUT simulation kits.
• Define and maintain verification standards.
• Leverage AUTO DIFF and establish guidance for when/how to apply it.

Software Engineering & Automation

• Design, implement, and test internal engineering tools using VBA, Visual Studio, TCL, C#, and C++
• Use Git/GitHub for version control and Visual Studio/VS Code for development and debugging; change management.
• Author user documentation and training content.

Systems, IT & Data Integration

• Troubleshoot application/IT issues spanning NX, VERICUT, licensing, drivers, and ERP interfaces; collaborate with IT to resolve.
• Support data accuracy and process governance (PDM/PLM/ERP links, revision control, tool libraries).
• Operate primarily at the macro level: defining processes, programming standards, simulation sign off, and guardrails that enable scalable, high-quality execution by front‑line programmers.
• When needed, engage at the micro level to unlock a production issue, then fold learnings back into standards, templates, or tools.
• Create concise training manuals and deliver hands‑on training; contribute to SOPs and the knowledge base.

This role will not be producing day to day NC programs but will instead be working with the value stream to provide reusable solutions, troubleshoot toolpath and post issues, and validate fixes.

Must Have

Bachelor's Degree and 9 years of relevant exempt experience;

Master's Degree and 7 years of relevant professional experience;

One of the following may be used as an equivalent to Bachelor's Degree for Information Technology Related Positions Only:

Associate's Degree or other formal 2 year program and 2 years of relevant exempt experience or 4 years of relevant non‑exempt experience

Military Paygrade E-5 or above military experience

High School/GED and 4 years combined of Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, Trades, Military experience or other relevant exempt experience

High School/GED and 8 years combined of Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, Trades, Military experience or other relevant non‑exempt experience

A relevant professional certification can be substituted for a Bachelor's Degree.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Developing Post Processors and full simulation kits within Siemens NX using Post Builder and Post Configurator.
• Experience developing utilities with NX Open automation tools using C# or Visual Studio - Visual Basic.
• Ability to verify NC programming in a manufacturing environment

Why HII

We build the world's most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. HII's diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.

Recognized as one of America's top large company employers, we are a values and ethics driven organization that puts people's safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you'll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.