Senior Manufacturing Engineer – CNC Programming & Machining

Dreams 2 Reality Recruitment; Bolingbrook (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dreams 2 Reality Recruitment is seeking a hands-on Senior Manufacturing Engineer with deep CNC programming and machining expertise for automotive production. You will develop CNC programs, optimize toolpaths, troubleshoot floor issues, and drive process improvements with Operations, Quality, and Maintenance on site.

The role emphasizes improving OEE, throughput, and quality while integrating Lean/Six Sigma methods. Temporary assignment, with close coordination to shutdown planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years CNC programming and machining in automotive/high-volume environments.
• Strong CNC turning/milling experience on lathes and VMCs.
• Experience with Fuji and Mori Seiki platforms is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in Mastercam or CAM software and AutoCAD.
• Solid GD&T, drawings interpretation, and tolerancing knowledge.
• Hands-on CNC programming, toolpaths, and Machining optimization experience.
• Knowledge of carbide tooling, inserts, tool holders, and fixtures.
• Fixture design experience and hydraulic/pneumatic workholding familiarity.
• Familiarity with CMMs, Zoller presets, SPC, Cp/Cpk, and process controls.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and mentor on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, optimize, and validate CNC programs for turning/milling, including lathes and VMCs.
• Lead CNC programming, toolpath development, and cutting strategy optimization for automotive parts.
• Improve machining processes to raise throughput, OEE, and reduce scrap.
• Select and implement cutting tools, inserts, tool holders, and fixtures.
• Troubleshoot tool wear, chatter, cycle-time issues, and dimensional variation.
• Provide hands-on floor support to resolve machining challenges.
• Collaborate with Quality to maintain Cp/Cpk and process capability.
• Refine parameters, tooling, fixtures, and methods for reliability and quality.
• Support fixture/workholding development, hydraulic/pneumatic systems.
• Drive Lean and Six Sigma projects for cost reduction and productivity.

Skills

CNC programming

Machining processes

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Problem solving

SPC

GD&T

Mastercam

AutoCAD

Fixture design

CMM

Carbide tooling

Multi-axis CNC

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Fuji CNC

Mori Seiki

Mastercam

AutoCAD

CMM equipment

Zoller tool presetters

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced, hands‑on SeniorManufacturing Engineer with extensive expertise in CNC programming, machiningprocesses, and manufacturing optimization within the automotive industry.

This individual will be responsible for developing,optimizing, and supporting CNC machining processes across productionoperations, with a primary focus on improving overall equipment effectiveness(OEE), increasing production throughput, reducing scrap, and enhancing productquality.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong, hands‑on engineer who can work directly on the manufacturing floor to develop CNCprograms, optimize toolpaths and machining strategies, troubleshoot productionchallenges, and implement process improvements. This role requires someone whocan take ownership of machining processes while partnering closely withOperations, Quality, and Maintenance to drive manufacturing efficiency andconsistency.

Please note: This is a temporary position. The facilityis currently expected to close approximately May/June. Candidates must be madeaware of the temporary nature of the opportunity and anticipated facilityclosure before being submitted for consideration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop,modify, optimize, and validate CNC programs for turning and millingoperations, including CNC lathes and vertical and horizontal machiningcenters.
• LeadCNC programming, toolpath development, and cutting strategy optimizationfor automotive components.
• Evaluateand improve machining processes to increase production throughput, improveOEE, reduce cycle times, and minimize scrap.
• Identifyand implement optimal cutting tools, carbide inserts, tool holders, andworkholding solutions.
• Troubleshootmachining issues involving tool wear, chatter, cycle time inefficiencies,dimensional variation, and process instability.
• Providehands‑on technical support on the production floor to resolve machiningand manufacturing challenges.
• Collaboratewith Quality to establish and maintain process capability, includingCp/Cpk studies, SPC, and first-piece validation.
• Optimizemachining parameters, tooling configurations, fixtures, and manufacturingmethods to improve process reliability and product quality.
• Supportfixture and workholding development, including hydraulic and pneumaticsystems.
• Drivecontinuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma,and other process improvement methodologies.
• Develop,maintain, and update CNC programs, process documentation, workinstructions, and manufacturing standards.
• Partnerwith Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and other cross-functional teams to improve production performance and resolve technical issues.
• Leadand support manufacturing engineering projects focused on cost reduction,productivity, quality, and process standardization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor'sdegree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, IndustrialEngineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent hands‑onmanufacturing engineering experience will also be considered.
• Minimumof 5 years of CNC programming and machining experience within anautomotive or high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Strongexpertise in CNC turning and milling operations, including CNC lathes andvertical and horizontal machining centers.
• Experiencewith CNC machine platforms such as Fuji and Mori Seiki is highlydesirable.
• Proficiencyin Mastercam or comparable CAM programming software, along with AutoCAD.
• Strongunderstanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, blueprint interpretation,and dimensional tolerances.
• Hands‑onexperience developing and optimizing CNC programs, toolpaths, cuttingparameters, and machining processes.
• Knowledgeof carbide tooling, inserts, tool holders, cutting strategies, andmachining applications.
• Experiencewith fixture design and workholding systems, including hydraulic andpneumatic fixtures.
• Familiaritywith CMM equipment, Zoller tool presetters, and other precisionmeasurement systems.
• Strongunderstanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capabilitystudies, Cp/Cpk, and manufacturing process controls.
• Demonstratedability to troubleshoot machining problems and provide direct technicalsupport on the production floor.
• Stronganalytical, problem‑solving, and process optimization skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experiencein high-volume automotive manufacturing and production environments.
• Backgroundin multi-axis CNC machining and advanced machining applications.
• Experiencewith Fuji and Mori Seiki CNC equipment.
• Familiaritywith ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• LeanManufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
• Provenexperience leading manufacturing process improvement, productivity, andcost reduction initiatives.
• BilingualEnglish/Spanish communication skills strongly preferred.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on manufacturing engineerwith strong CNC programming and machining expertise who is comfortable workingdirectly with production teams and equipment. They should have the technicalability to develop and optimize machining processes, troubleshoot complexmanufacturing issues, and implement practical solutions that improveproductivity, quality, and operational efficiency.

Candidates with experience in high-volume automotivemanufacturing, particularly those with strong CNC lathe and milling programmingcapabilities, are highly encouraged to apply.