Senior CNC Workforce Development SpecialistOn-site in Plymouth, MITarget salary range: $75,000 - $90,000.00
We are hiring a Senior CNC Workforce Development Specialist to lead CNC machinist training, workforce development, and performance improvement within a manufacturing environment. This role requires extensive CNC mill and lathe experience, including machining operations, blueprint interpretation, tooling, feeds and speeds, dimensional inspection, troubleshooting, and hands-on development of entry-level machinists.
Responsibilities:- Develop, deliver, and evaluate structured CNC machining training for entry-level machinists.
- Train machinists to safely operate CNC mills, lathes, and machining centers for operations including boring, facing, and threading metallic workpieces such as castings, forgings, and bar stock.
- Teach machinists to read and interpret blueprints, planning sheets, sketches, layouts, job orders, and related technical documentation.
- Train employees to interpret product specifications, dimensions, tolerances, tooling instructions, feed rates, cutting speeds, and depths of cut.
- Instruct machinists on determining machine control settings, material requirements, machining methods, and sequences of operations.
- Demonstrate proper selection, positioning, and securing of cutting tools using chucks, collets, tool posts, and tool holders.
- Train employees to properly position and secure workpieces using holding devices, machine tables, chucks, centers, and fixtures.
- Teach proper machine setup, including tool and workpiece positioning and setting specified feeds, speeds, and depths of cut.
- Train machinists on coolant and cutting oil application and proper machine operation.
- Monitor machine displays and operations and teach employees to identify and troubleshoot CNC machine malfunctions.
- Train machinists to inspect first-run and subsequent production parts for conformance to specifications and properly document inspection results.
- Teach machinists to enter commands and manually adjust machine controls to correct malfunctions and out-of-tolerance conditions.
- Instruct employees on tool replacement, machine and tooling cleaning, bench grinder operation, and light machine maintenance, including oil and coolant checks.
- Develop testing and evaluation procedures to measure CNC machinist competency and production readiness.
- Track CNC machining progression, time to competency, retention rates, training effectiveness, and production readiness.
- Maintain accurate training and certification records in Plex and related systems.
- Prepare monthly program reports and participate in bi-weekly training meetings.
- Identify machining performance and training gaps and implement targeted corrective actions and development plans.
- Partner with Production to ensure machinists are prepared for production requirements and shop-floor job demands.
- Collaborate with Quality to align CNC training with machining standards, inspection requirements, and defect-reduction objectives.
- Partner with Human Resources to support employee onboarding, development, engagement, and retention.
- Support internal, customer, and third-party audits involving training and certification requirements.
- Assist supervisors with certification processes, including overhead crane and forklift training, as needed.
- Maintain training equipment, tools, supplies, and inventory and coordinate ordering as required.
- Maintain clean, organized, and professional classroom and shop training environments.
- Ensure training activities comply with established company policies, procedures, certification requirements, and safety standards.
- Promote and enforce safe work practices and required PPE in classroom and manufacturing environments.
- Conduct required trainee evaluations and maintain program compliance.
Qualifications:- U.S. Citizenship is required by Federal Law
- High school diploma or GED.
- 10+ years of machining experience in a production and/or training environment.
- Extensive working knowledge of CNC mills, lathes, and machining centers.
- Hands-on experience with CNC machining operations, including boring, facing, threading, tooling, workholding, machine setup, and machine controls.
- Experience reading and interpreting blueprints, dimensions, tolerances, technical data, and machining instructions.
- Knowledge of machining parameters, including feeds, speeds, depths of cut, cutting tools, coolant, and machining sequences.
- Experience inspecting machined parts for conformance to specifications and documenting inspection results.
- Ability to troubleshoot CNC machining operations and correct machine malfunctions or out-of-tolerance conditions.
- Experience performing routine machine and tooling maintenance.
- Ability to work in classroom, office, and manufacturing/shop-floor environments.
- Must meet company requirements for background checks, employment verification, reference checks, physical examination, and controlled substance testing.
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience training, coaching, mentoring, or developing machinists across varying skill levels.
- Experience developing structured CNC machining or manufacturing training programs.
- Experience building, improving, or scaling workforce development programs in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience identifying performance gaps and implementing targeted employee development plans to improve machining skills and retention.
- Demonstrated success improving employee retention, time to competency, or training effectiveness within a manufacturing environment.
- Familiarity with regulated manufacturing environments, including AS9100, ISO 14001, or similar standards.
- Experience using ERP, learning, or training tracking systems such as Plex, Socrative, or similar platforms for workforce development and certification tracking.
- Experience partnering cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Human Resources.
- Experience supporting customer or third-party audits related to manufacturing training and certification programs.
