The CNC Machine Shop Manager is responsible for the overall execution of CNC department production, including scheduling, capacity planning, work prioritization, staffing, tooling, inventory, and workflow. This role leads CNC personnel and coordinates closely with Production Planning, Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and other manufacturing teams to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and according to schedule.
The Manager monitors department performance, resolves production constraints, develops employees, and drives continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, equipment utilization, and on-time delivery.
What You'll Own
- Daily CNC machine shop production and execution
- Production scheduling, planning, and work prioritization
- CNC staffing, assignments, training, and performance
- Machine capacity, utilization, and workflow
- Tooling, consumables, and department inventory
- Safety, quality, productivity, and on-time delivery
- Equipment preventive Maintenance
Essential Functions
Production Planning & Execution
- Manage daily CNC production activities, schedules, priorities, and work assignments to meet customer and manufacturing requirements.
- Review production demand, work orders, machine capacity, staffing, materials, tooling, and other requirements to establish achievable production plans.
- Monitor work in process and proactively adjust priorities, staffing, and machine assignments to address changing schedules, bottlenecks, and production constraints.
- Coordinate with Planning, Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Manufacturing to resolve issues and maintain production flow.
- Ensure work orders, materials, programs, documentation, fixtures, and tooling are available to support scheduled production.
CNC Operations & Department Management
- Oversee CNC machining operations and provide leadership on manufacturing methods, machine utilization, setups, tooling, fixtures, and workflow.
- Manage department tooling, fixtures, consumables, and inventory to ensure appropriate resources are available while maintaining accountability and cost control.
- Monitor equipment utilization, downtime, productivity, and department capacity to identify opportunities for improved performance.
- Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to resolve equipment, programming, tooling, and process issues affecting production.
- Support implementation of improved machining methods, setup reduction, workflow optimization, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
Team Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop CNC machinists, operators, programmers, and other assigned personnel while establishing clear performance and production expectations.
- Plan staffing and assign employees based on production requirements, machine capabilities, workload, and individual skill levels.
- Identify training and cross-training opportunities that improve workforce flexibility, technical capability, and department capacity.
- Manage employee performance, attendance, accountability, and development while promoting a safe, collaborative, and results-oriented work environment.
Quality, Safety & Performance
- Ensure machining activities comply with drawings, specifications, work instructions, quality requirements, and established manufacturing processes.
- Maintain accurate and timely production documentation, work order transactions, nonconformance documentation, and other required manufacturing records.
- Monitor department performance using production metrics such as schedule attainment, productivity, equipment utilization, quality, scrap/rework, and downtime.
- Ensure employees follow company safety requirements, quality procedures, and applicable AS9100 standards while driving corrective actions and continuous improvement.
- Ensure we maintain a clean organized work area. Utilizing tools and methods in support of a visual factory and 5's daily routines.
Non-Essential Functions
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What You Bring
Experience
- 7+ years of CNC machining or precision manufacturing experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory or management role.
- Demonstrated experience managing daily machine shop production, including scheduling, work assignments, capacity, priorities, and production flow.
- Experience leading CNC machinists, operators, programmers, or similar skilled manufacturing teams.
- Aerospace, defense, space, or other high-precision manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
Technical Skills
- Strong understanding of CNC machining operations, setups, tooling, fixtures, cutting tools, feeds/speeds, and machining processes.
- Experience with multi-axis CNC equipment, including 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machining environments.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, work orders, and manufacturing documentation.
- Working knowledge of production planning, machine capacity, labor planning, tooling management, and manufacturing performance metrics.
- Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Office, and manufacturing quality systems such as AS9100.
Professional Skills
- Strong production leadership with the ability to organize people, equipment, and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to quickly address production constraints and changing priorities.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Demonstrated ability to develop employees, establish accountability, and build a productive, safety- and quality-focused team.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $100,000 - $130,000 (based on experience and skillset)
- 100% Employer-Paid Medical & Dental
- Annual Bonus Program
- 401(k) with 5% Match
- Employee Stock Option Program
- 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)
- Paid Holidays + Generous PTO
- $2,500 Tuition Reimbursement
