Process Engineer – Machining

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Process Engineer – Machining to support the development, industrialisation and continuous improvement of machining processes within an advanced engineering and component repair environment.

The successful candidate will take technical ownership of machining processes including CNC milling, CNC turning, mill-turn, EDM and conventional lathe operations used for the repair and restoration of high-value engineered components. The role will involve qualifying new equipment and technologies, optimising existing machining processes, resolving manufacturing issues and driving improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost (SQDC).

This position is particularly suitable for a hands-on Process or Manufacturing Engineer who understands machining fundamentals and can translate engineering requirements into stable, repeatable and production-ready processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and industrialise machining processes for new and existing component repair applications.
• Lead the qualification and implementation of CNC milling, CNC turning, mill-turn, EDM, lathe and other machining processes in accordance with engineering specifications and quality requirements.
• Establish robust machining parameters including cutting speeds, feed rates, depth of cut, tooling selection and machining sequences.
• Support the introduction and qualification of new machines, tooling, fixtures, equipment and manufacturing technologies.
• Develop and optimise CNC machining strategies to improve process stability, cycle time, dimensional accuracy and overall productivity.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Operations and other cross-functional stakeholders to optimise processes for manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.
• Review engineering drawings, technical specifications, GD&T requirements and repair documentation to establish appropriate machining processes.
• Support CAD/CAM programming, tooling selection, fixture design and metrology requirements for new and existing machining operations.
• Develop machining fixtures and workholding concepts that ensure component stability, repeatability and dimensional control.
• Troubleshoot machining problems including dimensional deviations, excessive tool wear, poor surface finish, chatter, distortion and process instability.
• Conduct structured Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for manufacturing defects and recurring machining problems, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Monitor machining process performance using appropriate KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure machining operations consistently meet Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost (SQDC) requirements.
• Lead risk-reduction and quality-improvement projects to strengthen machining process capability.
• Drive productivity initiatives to reduce machining cycle time, scrap, rework, tooling consumption and other manufacturing costs.
• Support sustainability initiatives by reducing waste, energy consumption and unnecessary manufacturing activities.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to process design and continuously eliminate non-value-added activities.
• Conduct machining trials, process validation and capability studies before releasing new processes into production.
• Work with inspection and metrology teams to verify dimensional requirements and ensure repaired components meet applicable specifications.
• Develop and maintain machining process documentation, work instructions, standard operating procedures and technical reports.
• Provide hands-on technical guidance, training and troubleshooting support to machining operators and technicians.
• Support continuous improvement activities aimed at improving first-pass yield, process capability, productivity and equipment utilisation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from a recognised university.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in CNC machining, manufacturing engineering, process engineering or related machining processes.
• Strong practical understanding of CNC milling and/or CNC turning processes.
• Experience with EDM, mill-turn, lathes or other precision machining technologies would be advantageous.
• Good understanding of machining fundamentals including cutting parameters, tool selection, tool wear, surface finish and dimensional control.
• Familiarity with tooling selection, fixture design, CAD, CAM and metrology.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications and dimensional requirements.
• Experience developing, qualifying, industrialising or improving machining processes within a manufacturing or repair environment.
• Strong troubleshooting and structured problem-solving capability.
• Familiarity with Root Cause Analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Understanding of manufacturing quality requirements and process control.
• Ability to work effectively with operators, technicians, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers and other cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with exposure to the following areas will have an advantage:

• Gas turbine component manufacturing or repair.
• Aerospace engine manufacturing or MRO.
• Turbine blades, vanes, nozzles, combustors or other precision engineered components.
• CNC 5-axis milling.
• CNC mill-turn machining.
• EDM processes.
• Precision component repair.
• Complex or difficult-to-machine alloys.
• Nickel-based superalloys.
• CNC programming and CAM software.
• Tooling and cutting parameter optimisation.
• Fixture and workholding design.
• GD&T and dimensional inspection.
• CMM and other precision metrology techniques.
• Process qualification and industrialisation.
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.

The original requirement specifically identifies gas turbine component repair knowledge as advantageous, rather than mandatory.

Technical Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate a good understanding of:

CNC Milling | CNC Turning | Mill-Turn | EDM | Lathe Machining | Cutting Tools | Speeds & Feeds | Fixture Design | Workholding | CAD/CAM | GD&T | Engineering Drawings | Metrology | Process Qualification | Root Cause Analysis | Lean Manufacturing | Continuous Improvement | SQDC

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for an engineer who is comfortable being close to the manufacturing floor and can take ownership of machining processes rather than simply monitoring production.

The successful candidate should be able to understand a machining problem, analyse the technical root cause, work with operators and engineering teams to develop a solution, validate the improvement and establish a robust process that can be consistently repeated in production.

You should also be proactive in identifying opportunities to improve machining quality, productivity, cycle time, tooling performance and manufacturing cost.

Why Join

• Work with advanced machining technologies on complex, high-value engineered components.
• Take ownership of CNC and precision machining process development and industrialisation.
• Participate in the qualification and introduction of new manufacturing equipment and technologies.
• Develop deeper expertise in component repair, machining, tooling, fixtures and manufacturing engineering.
• Work closely with experienced Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Operations teams.
• Lead technical improvements that directly influence quality, productivity, cost and delivery performance.
• Gain exposure to advanced component repair and precision manufacturing technologies.

Suitable Candidate Backgrounds

Candidates may come from industries including:

Gas Turbine | Aerospace | Aviation MRO | Aero Engine Manufacturing | Precision Engineering | CNC Machining | Semiconductor Equipment | Oil & Gas Equipment | Automotive | Industrial Manufacturing | Component Repair | Advanced Manufacturing