NC Programmer - Electron Beam Welding Operator

Jefferson Lab

$68K — $98K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 9+ years of expert-level machinist or CNC programming experience
  • Welding experience preferred
  • High School Diploma or GED required
  • Experience with CAM software for multi-axis toolpath generation
  • Familiarity with reading complex part and assembly prints
  • Knowledge of CMM inspection feedback loops

Responsibilities

  • Develop skills to independently operate an e-beam welding cell under SRF Engineering guidance
  • Convert engineering designs into CNC/NC programs for electron-beam welding
  • Participate in tooling and fixture planning for efficient job execution
  • Manage vacuum system operations, ensuring a contamination-free environment
  • Align workpieces and configure beam parameters for welding tasks
  • Collaborate with engineering on prototypes and first-articles for nuclear research
  • Adjust beam programming and perform calibration to optimize welds

Benefits

  • Training under experienced SRF Engineering professionals
  • Hands-on experience with cutting-edge e-beam welding technology
  • Opportunity to work on high-impact projects in nuclear research
  • Potential for growth in CNC programming and engineering skills
  • Engage in a collaborative and innovative work environment
Full Job Description
The good-faith pay range for this role is $68,500.00 - $98,100.00 per year. Actual compensation may vary and may be above the posted range based on factors such as a candidate's skills, experience, education, certifications, and work location.

What your job will be like:

This role trains under electron beam engineering support to develop the skills needed to independently operate an e-beam welding cell, translating engineering drawings, CAD models, and customer specifications into CNC/NC programs while designing fixtures, tool paths, and weld parameters for each job. Responsibilities include managing vacuum chamber pump-down, positioning workpieces and configuring beam voltage, current, focus, and travel speed to match material and joint requirements. The role requires first-article prove-out, real-time beam programming and calibration adjustments and process optimization to reduce weld defects. Maintaining weld logs and traceability documentation in compliance with customer, industry, and radiation safety standards is normal practice.

In this job you will:
  • Work under SRF Engineering to develop skills to operate e-beam welding cell independently.
  • Program development & CAD/CAM translation - Converts engineering drawings, CAD & customer specs into CNC/NC code for electron-beam welding cell, selecting appropriate tool paths, process parameters, and weld sequences for each job.
  • Tooling and fixture planning - Participates in determining fixtures and workholding setups needed to run each program efficiently and safely.
  • Vacuum system operation - Manages chamber pump-down cycles, monitors vacuum levels, and troubleshoots leaks or seal failures to maintain the environment required for a stable, contamination-free electron beam.
  • Weld setup, fixturing - Positions/secures workpieces in vacuum chambers & fixtures, aligns parts to precise tolerances, configures beam parameters (voltage, current, focus, travel speed) to match material type, thickness, and joint design.
  • Prototype & first-article verification - Work with engineering teams on design and fab strategy of prototypes, pre-production and first articles in support of SRF operations at JLab and other nuclear research labs around the world.
  • Beam programming & process control - Sets or adjusts CNC-driven beam paths and oscillation patterns, performs test welds and beam calibration checks, and fine-tunes parameters to achieve proper penetration, fusion, and minimal distortion.


Experience
  • Required: 9 or more years Expert level machinist and/or CNC programming background, welding experience desirable.


Education
  • Required: High School Diploma or GED


Experience and Education Exchange

Education above the minimum may be substituted for experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Experience with CAM software for generating and optimizing multi-axis toolpaths including simultaneous 5-axis strategies.
  • Machining experience across mill/lathe and mill/turn, including manual setup and the ability to run/troubleshoot programs at the machine level highly desirable but not required.
  • Ability to read complex part and assembly prints and translate tolerance requirements into programming strategy.
  • Familiarity with CMM in-process inspection feedback loops for successful part and assembly production.
  • Ability to design or specify fixturing that maintains part accessibility and rigidity across multi-axis toolpaths.


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