CNC Programmer — Multi-Axis Milling & Turning | Aerospace & Defense
Elk Grove Village, IL | On-Site | Full-Time | Reports to Engineering
| Day 1 Benefits | Weekly Pay
Write the programs that make the parts that matter.
Acme Industries is hiring a CNC Programmer to develop and optimize machining programs for complex precision components across aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, and transportation markets. You'll work inside our Engineering department — not on the floor waiting for a machine to free up — developing programs, building tooling strategies, and collaborating with machinists and engineers to solve real manufacturing problems.
We run high-mix, low-volume work. Large castings and forgings. Tight tolerances. Parts measured in feet that go into aircraft, defense systems, and power plants. If you've spent your career programming the same family of parts on repeat, this will be a different experience — and for the right programmer, a more interesting one.
We currently have a CNC Programmer I on the team who is growing fast. The person we hire needs to be capable of owning the more complex programming work — multi-axis milling, large-part turning, boring mill programs — and capable of being a technical resource the team learns from.
What You'll Own
- Develop and optimize CNC programs for multi-axis milling, turning, and horizontal boring mill operations using CAM software — TopSolid and SmartCAM preferred; Mastercam, Esprit, or NX also considered
- Build conceptual machining strategies including operation sequencing, tooling selection, workholding concepts, and fixture approaches for complex machined castings and forgings
- Prove out new programs on the floor — make real-time adjustments at the control to achieve first-article approval
- Collaborate with machinists, setup techs, and manufacturing engineers to optimize programs for cycle time, tool life, and quality
- Support the quoting and estimating function with CAM-based cycle time analysis and machining strategy input
- Develop and maintain programming standards, templates, and best practices that the broader team can build from
- Mentor and support CNC Programmer I in developing their multi-axis and complex programming capabilities
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives — better programs, faster setups, smarter tooling strategies
What We Need
Required:
- 5+ years of CNC programming experience with demonstrated multi-axis (4-axis and 5-axis) milling and turning capability
- Proficiency in at least one major CAM platform — TopSolid, SmartCAM, Mastercam, Esprit, or NX
- Experience programming for precision machined castings, forgings, or complex components — not just prismatic or simple turned parts
- Strong understanding of machining fundamentals — feeds, speeds, tooling, workholding, surface finish, and tolerance requirements
- Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings and GD&T accurately and independently
- FANUC control experience — ability to make edits, offset adjustments, and parameter changes at the control during prove-out
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required — ITAR regulated environment
Strongly Preferred:
- Experience programming horizontal boring mill or large-envelope multi-axis machines
- Aerospace, defense, or heavy industrial precision manufacturing background
- AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality system familiarity
- Exposure to the quoting or estimating process — CAM-based cycle time development for cost models
- Experience mentoring or training less experienced programmers
Why Acme
- Competitive pay commensurate with your actual programming depth — not a standard rate everyone gets
- Day 1 medical, dental, and vision — no waiting period
- Weekly pay — not bi-weekly
- 401(k) with company match
- Company-paid life insurance and short and long-term disability
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- Gainsharing bonus — when Acme hits its numbers, you share in it
- Tuition assistance — we invest in your continued development
- Complex, interesting work — large aerospace and defense components, high-mix, different challenges every week
- Engineering seat, not a floor seat — you're developing programs and strategy, not waiting for machine time
- A team to grow with — you'll mentor our CNC Programmer I and help build the programming function as Acme scales