CNC Process Programmer – Swiss, Lathe & Milling Automation

At The Lee Company, your code turns metal into precision. Picture a typical day: you start with a challenging print, review machine specifications, map out the operation flow, then translate it all into clean, efficient G/M-code. By mid-morning, you’re aligning tooling, feeds, and speeds, ready to prove out your program on the floor. The afternoon brings collaboration—working with Tool Design and Manufacturing to refine tooling strategies—then monitoring a lights-out run you set up the night before. You leave knowing the overnight process and robotics cell will keep humming.

What You’ll Do

• Program CNC lathes, Swiss lathes, and mills using current machining practices; develop new processes that enable reliable overnight, continuous (lights-out) runs.
• Design and document operation sequences, tooling layouts, and machine setup instructions from part drawings, machine specs, and electronic control data, applying established methods and standards.
• Align and code steps for tool operations, speeds, feeds, and workpiece positions to match planned sequences.
• Prove out programs on the machines when needed; monitor setups and first-piece runs to validate methodology, tooling, and part quality.
• Revise and optimize programs to correct errors, adapt to new tooling, improve surface finish, and reduce cycle time and cost.
• Partner closely with Tool Design and Manufacturing teams to plan or update tooling designs and arrangements for new and existing work.
• Contribute to robotic automation development and integration to support unattended production.

What You Bring

• High school diploma, GED, or trade school education; an associate degree in manufacturing technologies (or similar) is ideal.
• Solid knowledge of metal cutting and CNC machining processes.
• Diagnostic skill for machining issues including tool failure, rough finishes, and chip accumulation.
• Proficiency with CNC controls, precision measuring equipment, hand tools, and specialized trade tools.
• Comfort using computers for data entry and document creation.
• Mechanical aptitude paired with strong math capability.
• Ability to read blueprints, proofread documents, train others, and complete production paperwork.

Core Competencies

• GD&T
• CNC Programming
• G-code and M-code
• Equipment and process troubleshooting
• Production machine setups

Machines & Technologies

• CNC Swiss Lathe: Star, Citizen, Tsugami, Eurotech, Tornos
• 5+ Axis CNC Lathe: Mazak, Okuma, Eurotech, DMG Mori Seiki, Nakamura