Machine Shop Manager WillowWood Global is seeking an experienced CNC manufacturing leader with a passion for precision, productivity, and developing people. We are looking for a Machine Shop Manager to lead our high-performance machining operation. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in CNC machining and programming, along with proven leadership experience in a production or job shop environment. Experience with HAAS equipment, UMC 5-axis mills, 3- and 4-axis milling, duel spindle CNC lathes with live tooling, Swiss/screw machines, robotic integration, SolidCAM, and SolidWorks is highly valued. This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for managing day-to-day machine shop operations, developing employees, coordinating production schedules, maintaining quality standards, improving processes, and ensuring the department operates safely and efficiently. Core Responsibilities Shop Management & Leadership · Manage the daily operations of the machine shop, including scheduling, personnel, equipment, production priorities, and workflow to achieve a high level of equipment utilization. · Establish and maintain standardized process routing for efficiency, scheduling, and quality. · Incorporate redundancy into operations through training, mentorship, and the development of CNC programmers, setup personnel, and operators. · Set and monitor employee performance and provide coaching, feedback, and development opportunities. · Work with company leadership to establish departmental goals and performance expectations. · Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, quality, and continuous improvement. · Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and training machine shop personnel. · Follow and enforce company policy for safety, conformance deviation and change control. Production Planning & Scheduling · Coordinate production schedules based on demand requirements and available resources. · Monitor production progress and adjust priorities as needed to meet demand commitments. · Coordinate scheduling of people, raw material, tooling, fixtures, programming and other resources required to maintain equipment uptime. · Identify production bottlenecks and work with engineering and quality to implement solutions to improve throughput. · Work closely with engineering and quality to resolve quality issues and improve processes. · Monitor machine utilization, labor efficiency, scrap, rework, and production performance. · Work with leadership to coordinate and prioritize the support of prototype and development, activities. CNC Programming & Manufacturing · Provide technical oversight and optimization of CNC programs and G-code to improve quality, cycle times, and machine efficiency. · Support programming of CNC mills, lathes, and Swiss/screw machines using SolidCAM, SolidWorks, or comparable CAD/CAM platforms. · Provide guidance on tooling, feeds, speeds, work holding, toolpaths, and machining strategies. · Oversee development and implementation of fixtures, tooling, and machining processes. Continuous Improvement · Analyze production data and develop corrective actions as needed to meet performance goals. · Promote proper 5S practices and maintain an organized, efficient, and professional work environment. · Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, safety, and machine utilization. · Identify new tooling, equipment, automation, and machining technologies. Quality & Inspection · Ensure all machining operations meet established quality standards, specifications, and tolerances. · Ensure setup sheets, routings, work instructions, and other manufacturing documentation are accurate and maintained. · Ensure all tools used for quality assurance are maintained under a defined calibration schedule. · Work closely with engineering and quality to address any nonconformance parts and corrective actions. · Ensure machinists and operators properly inspect their work and maintain appropriate inspection and process documentation. · Ensure employees are properly trained in the use of micrometers, calipers, gauges, and other precision measuring equipment. Safety & Equipment · Maintain a safe working environment and enforce all company safety policies and procedures. · Ensure employees are properly trained in machine operation, PPE, lockout/tagout, and other applicable safety procedures. · Support preventive maintenance programs and ensure machine issues are addressed promptly. · Coordinate with maintenance personnel to minimize equipment downtime. · Monitor machine condition and recommend repairs, replacements, or upgrades when appropriate. · Maintain proper housekeeping and 5S standards throughout the department. Materials, Tooling & Inventory · Coordinate purchasing and availability of cutting tools, workholding, raw materials, and other production supplies. · Monitor tooling consumption and identify opportunities to reduce costs. · Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support production requirements. · Work with suppliers and purchasing personnel on tooling and material requirements. · Evaluate new tooling and manufacturing products to improve performance and reduce operating costs. Qualifications Required · 5+ years of CNC machining experience in a production, job shop, or manufacturing environment. · Deep understanding of GD&T for print interpretation and precision measuring tools to ensure parts meet required specifications. · Proven track record of operating within strict quality management systems (QMS), consistently executing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions (WIs). · Demonstrated experience in machine shop leadership or management. · Strong knowledge of CNC mills, lathes, and Swiss/screw machines. · Significant experience with 5-axis machining. · Strong understanding of G-code, toolpaths, tooling, feeds, speeds, workholding, and machining processes. · Experience with CAD/CAM software such as SolidCAM and SolidWorks, or comparable platforms. · Experience with production scheduling, workflow coordination, and resource planning. · Proven ability to lead, train, mentor, and develop manufacturing employees. · Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. · Experience with precision measurement and inspection techniques. · High school diploma or GED. Preferred · Experience with HAAS CNC equipment. · Experience with HAAS UMC 5-axis machining centers. · Experience with CNC lathes with live tooling. · Experience with Swiss/screw machines. · Experience with robotic machine tending or robotic programming. · Experience designing and implementing custom fixtures. · Experience with lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous-improvement methodologies. · Experience working with quality systems and corrective-action processes. · Experience managing multiple shifts or a growing machine shop operation. Leadership Expectations The Machine Shop Manager is expected to lead by example and maintain a professional, accountable, and team-oriented environment. The successful candidate will: · Develop and maintain redundancy into a highly skilled machining team. · Hold employees accountable to established standards for safety, quality, productivity, and attendance. · Communicate effectively with employees, engineering, quality, purchasing, and company leadership. · Lead by example during high-pressure production challenges by providing team support, maintaining composure, communicating clearly, and driving solution-focused outcomes. · Encourage employee ideas and participation in continuous improvement. What We Offer · Competitive compensation based on experience. · Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits. · 401(k) with company match. · Paid time off and company holidays. · Ongoing technical and leadership training. · Opportunities for professional growth and advancement. · A collaborative, supportive, and technology-driven work environment. · Overtime opportunities. · The opportunity to lead and grow a highly capable CNC manufacturing team. Position Summary The Machine Shop Manager will play a critical role in the success of our manufacturing operation. This position combines technical CNC expertise with strong leadership and business-minded decision-making. The successful candidate will be responsible for building a productive team, maintaining high-quality standards, improving manufacturing processes, and ensuring the machine shop consistently meets safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.