Principal CNC Machining Architect

Ironstead; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Ironstead is seeking a Member of Technical Staff, Principal Machining to become the company’s deepest technical authority on CNC machining and DfX. You will determine how a difficult part should actually be made, including tooling, datum strategy, CAM approach, and inspection planning.

You will collaborate with design engineers and machinists across sites to drive high‑integrity production, reduce risk, and ensure repeatable success from CAD to first article through to production.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in CNC multi-axis machining, manufacturing engineering, and machining process development.
• Demonstrated experience developing difficult parts from drawing and CAD review.
• Strong knowledge of CAM, cutting tools, workholding, feeds and speeds, machine dynamics, probing, and process planning.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance stack-up, datum schemes, surface finishes, materials, and inspection.
• Ability to troubleshoot G-code and understand CAM output vs machine behavior.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overarching machining strategy across the portfolio and resolve high risk manufacturing failures.
• Conduct cross-facility technical audits to deploy proven machining methodologies.
• Codify advanced machining dynamics into automated DfX, CAM strategies, and IronsteadOS workflows.
• Lead root cause troubleshooting for chatter, thermal drift, workholding instability, and tool wear.
• Establish decision frameworks for when high complexity machining requires alternative approaches.

Skills

CNC multi-axis machining

Manufacturing engineering

Machining process development

GD&T

CAM

G-code troubleshooting

Tools

Mastercam

NX CAM

Esprit

Fusion

Job description

Ironstead is seeking a Member of Technical Staff, Principal Machining to become the company’s deepest technical authority on CNC machining and DfX. You will determine how a difficult part should actually be made, including tooling, datum strategy, CAM approach, and inspection planning.

You will collaborate with design engineers and machinists across sites to drive high‑integrity production, reduce risk, and ensure repeatable success from CAD to first article through to production.