CNC Machinist III

P & F Industries • Cranberry Township, PA

3d • $27 - $45 • Onsite

About The Position

The CNC Machinist III is the shop's most capable and self-directed machinist. This role owns independent setup and prove-out across all assigned workcenters, dimensional quality at the machine, and the development of less-experienced machinists. The Machinist III works from prints and models rather than proven paperwork alone, authors and corrects programs at the CNC control, and makes the process decisions — tooling, workholding, sequence, speeds and feeds — rather than executing someone else's. This is the top rung of the machinist ladder and the primary feeder into the programming track.

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.
• Skills Matrix Competency: Safety & shop practices
• Skills Matrix Competency: Speeds, feeds & chip load
• Skills Matrix Competency: Shop math & trigonometry
• Skills Matrix Competency: CNC programming — control level
• Skills Matrix Competency: Print reading & blueprint interpretation
• Skills Matrix Competency: Macros / parametric programming
• Skills Matrix Competency: GD&T & tolerance interpretation
• Skills Matrix Competency: Advanced CNC (multi-axis, mill-turn)
• Skills Matrix Competency: Measurement & inspection
• Skills Matrix Competency: Prove-out & first-article support
• Skills Matrix Competency: Materials & machinability
• Skills Matrix Competency: Troubleshooting & problem solving
• Skills Matrix Competency: Manual machining (lathe / mill / grind)
• Skills Matrix Competency: Machine technology — workcenters
• Skills Matrix Competency: CNC machine operation
• Skills Matrix Competency: Documentation & setup sheets
• Skills Matrix Competency: CNC setup
• Skills Matrix Competency: Training & mentoring
• Skills Matrix Competency: Workholding & fixturing
• Skills Matrix Competency: Continuous improvement / scrap reduction
• Skills Matrix Competency: Tooling & insert selection
• Required — Setup 3–4 / Run 4: CNC lathes, including live-tool and bar-fed turning centers; CNC vertical machining centers; CNC horizontal machining centers.
• Behavioral: works independently with minimal direction; communicates clearly with programming, quality, and maintenance; teaches patiently; owns and corrects mistakes; dependable attendance.
• Required: 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.

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

• Hearing protection required in posted areas; hearing conservation program participation where monitoring indicates.
• Machine enclosures and local exhaust where fitted, nitrile gloves, barrier cream, prompt washing. Governed by the hazard communication program.
• Safety glasses with side shields at all times; face shield for grinding and chip clearing; cut-resistant gloves when handling chips.
• Machine guarding, interlocks, and lockout/tagout are mandatory; no reaching into an operating envelope.
• Slip-resistant safety footwear required; spills cleaned immediately; 5S maintained.
• Anti-fatigue matting, lift assists, and job rotation available.
• Minimum PPE: safety glasses with side shields, hearing protection in posted areas, slip-resistant footwear, and task-appropriate gloves.

What This Job Offers

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