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Precision CNC Programmer–Machinist (Prototype & Low-Volume)

Sterling Engineering
  • Glenview, IL
  • $70,000–$75,000 Per Year
Today

Job Description

Precision CNC Programmer–Machinist (Prototype & Low-Volume)

Location: Glenview, IL

Hire Type: Direct Hire

Schedule: 7:00–3:30 pm, Monday–Friday

Compensation: $70,000–$75,000 per year

Bonus/Incentives/Stock Options: Not specified

Benefits: Full benefit package

Must-Have Skill Set: Experience with CNC lathes and mills

A day in the life

You arrive to a clean, organized shop floor and power up your CNC lathe and mill. Today’s lineup features a low-volume run of custom aluminum housings and a one-off stainless prototype. You review prints, set up tooling, and fine-tune offsets. Between operations, you tweak conversational programs, adjust G-code at the control, and verify features with micrometers, calipers, and dial indicators. Collaboration is the norm—you team up with engineering to validate a prototype, then roll right into continuous improvements that shave cycle time without sacrificing tolerance. Before you sign off, you perform routine maintenance and hand off a tidy, safe station for tomorrow’s builds.

What you’ll do

  • Set up, program, and run CNC milling and turning centers to produce precision components.
  • Create, modify, and optimize programs using conversational programming, G-code, and CAM software.
  • Jump onto conventional machines as needed and use shop equipment such as drill presses, saws, and grinders.
  • Select tooling and establish speeds/feeds, depths of cut, and coolant strategy for each operation.
  • Interpret drawings, blueprints, and technical specs to meet design intent and quality targets.
  • Measure critical features with precision instruments (micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, etc.).
  • Hold tight tolerances while maintaining part-to-part consistency.
  • Partner with engineering and production on prototypes and continuous process improvements.
  • Perform routine equipment maintenance and sustain a safe, orderly work area.

What you bring

  • High school diploma or equivalent; technical/vocational training preferred.
  • 5+ years of CNC machining experience.
  • Hands-on experience with CNC lathes and mills, plus some exposure to a manual mill.
  • Background machining aluminum, stainless steel, engineering plastics, and similar materials.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Proficiency with conversational programming and working knowledge of G-code.
  • Skill in creating, editing, and troubleshooting programs at the machine control.
  • Strong mechanical aptitude, problem-solving mindset, and solid shop math.
  • Ability to read blueprints and follow written work instructions.

Our commitment

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Numbers & Facts

LocationGlenview, IL
IndustryStaffing/Employment Agencies
Salary$70,000–$75,000 Per Year
Company Size500 to 999 employees
Year Founded1969
Websitehttp://www.sterling-engineering.com

About Company

Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:

 

  • Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.

 

  • Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.

 

Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.

Skills

  • Blueprintsunmatched
  • CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing)unmatched
  • CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) Systemsunmatched
  • CNC Latheunmatched
  • Computer Programmingunmatched
  • Continuous Improvementunmatched
  • Drilling Equipmentunmatched
  • Editingunmatched
  • Equipment Maintenance/Repairunmatched
  • High School Diplomaunmatched
  • Identify Issuesunmatched
  • Machine Toolunmatched
  • Machiningunmatched
  • Manufacturingunmatched
  • Mathematicsunmatched
  • Organizational Skillsunmatched
  • Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
  • Process Improvementunmatched
  • Prototypingunmatched
  • Safety/Work Safetyunmatched
  • Turning Centerunmatched
  • Website Conversionunmatched

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