CNC Machinist III

P & F Industries • Cranberry Township, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The CNC Machinist III is the shop's most capable and self-directed machinist, responsible for taking on difficult jobs, tight tolerances, new parts, or problem machines and returning them to production independently. This role involves independent setup and prove-out across all assigned workcenters, ensuring dimensional quality at the machine, and developing less-experienced machinists. The Machinist III works from prints and models, authors and corrects programs at the CNC control, and makes process decisions regarding tooling, workholding, sequence, speeds, and feeds. This is the top-level machinist position and a primary feeder into the programming track, with proficiency measured against the Machinist Skills Matrix.

Requirements

• Minimum five years of CNC machining in a job-shop or low-to-mid-volume precision environment, including at least two years of independent setup work — or two years at CNC Machinist II with all Skills Matrix minimums above met and verified.
• Demonstrated history of holding tolerances to ±0.0005″ and surface finishes to print on production work, with documented fluency on the shop’s CNC controls including G/M-code editing and offset management.
• Proficiency in Safety & shop practices
• Proficiency in Speeds, feeds & chip load
• Proficiency in Shop math & trigonometry
• Proficiency in CNC programming — control level
• Proficiency in Print reading & blueprint interpretation
• Proficiency in Macros / parametric programming
• Proficiency in GD&T & tolerance interpretation
• Proficiency in Advanced CNC (multi-axis, mill-turn)
• Proficiency in Measurement & inspection
• Proficiency in Prove-out & first-article support
• Proficiency in Materials & machinability
• Proficiency in Troubleshooting & problem solving
• Proficiency in Manual machining (lathe / mill / grind)
• Proficiency in Machine technology — workcenters
• Proficiency in CNC machine operation
• Proficiency in Documentation & setup sheets
• Proficiency in CNC setup
• Proficiency in Training & mentoring
• Proficiency in Workholding & fixturing
• Proficiency in Continuous improvement / scrap reduction
• Proficiency in Tooling & insert selection
• Setup 3–4 / Run 4: CNC lathes, including live-tool and bar-fed turning centers; CNC vertical machining centers; CNC horizontal machining centers.
• Minimum PPE: safety glasses with side shields, hearing protection in posted areas, slip-resistant footwear, and task-appropriate gloves.
• Loose clothing, jewelry, and unrestrained long hair are prohibited near rotating equipment.
• High school diploma or GED.

Nice To Haves

• Mill-turn or multi-axis setup and programming
• Mastercam or ESPRIT CAM familiarity (required to advance to Associate CNC Programmer)
• Okuma OSP control and its intelligent technologies
• Prior experience training or leading machinists
• Machining certificate or diploma from a technical school
• Completion of a formal machinist apprenticeship
• NIMS credentials in turning, milling, or CNC programming
• OEM or distributor control training, macro programming, or mill-turn training
• Development target — Setup 2 / Run 3: CNC mill-turn and multi-axis turning centers; twin-spindle lathes.
• Active development on at least one mill-turn platform is expected.
• As assigned: CNC OD grinding and CNC gear equipment; manual lathes and mills, grinders, shapers, saws, presses, and deburr stations for rework and fixture work.
• Hoist or forklift certification where applicable
• Annual safety training

Responsibilities

• Perform complete setups from scratch on all assigned workcenters — workholding, tooling, offsets, program load, and first-piece qualification — without supervision.
• Select and document tooling, insert grade, workholding, and operation sequence for new or problem parts.
• Prove out new and revised programs at the control, correcting toolpaths, feeds, speeds, and offsets to bring parts into tolerance; run production to print and router, holding dimensional quality, surface finish, and cycle time across the shift.
• Write, edit, and optimize G-code and M-code at the CNC control, including subprograms, canned cycles, and parametric / macro programming for part families.
• Own dimensional quality at the machine using micrometers, bore gauges, indicators, height and thread gauges, surface plate, and optical comparator.
• Interpret prints and models including GD&T datums, feature control frames, true position, and tolerance stack-up; support first-article inspection, interpret CMM reports, translate findings into corrections, and contain suspect material per quality procedure.
• Diagnose and correct chatter, poor finish, dimensional drift, tool wear and breakage, and control alarms; separate process problems from machine problems and partner with maintenance on the latter.
• Perform operator-level preventive maintenance — way lube, coolant concentration, chip and filter management, machine cleanliness.
• Train and mentor Machinist I and II personnel, sign off competency as authorized, and author or correct setup sheets so setups are repeatable by others.
• Drive cycle-time and scrap reduction, tooling standardization, and 5S; maintain accurate labor, quantity, and scrap reporting.
• Follow and enforce all safety rules, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and PPE requirements; correct unsafe conditions and report near-misses.

Benefits

• Overtime, shift coverage, and occasional weekend work as production requires.
• Hoists and lift assists required above 50 lbs for chucks, fixtures, and workholding.
• Anti-fatigue matting, lift assists, and job rotation available.
• Non-climate-controlled shop, equipment vibration, and powered industrial truck traffic in aisles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED