Since this is a Lead role for the Milling Department, the description needs to emphasize process stability, fixturing expertise, and team development. At Forest City Gear, the milling department is often where the most complex geometric features are added to gear blanks or housings.

Here is a tailored Job Description for a CNC Mill Lead.

Job Title: CNC Mill Lead

Company: Forest City Gear

Location: Roscoe, IL

Department: Milling / Secondary Operations

Role Summary

The CNC Mill Lead is the technical cornerstone of our milling department. In this role, you will do more than just set up machines; you will engineer the processes that allow us to achieve "Excellence Without Exception." You will oversee a cell of high-performance machining centers, mentor a team of technicians, and bridge the gap between engineering concepts and shop-floor reality.

Key Leadership & Technical Responsibilities

• Department Oversight: Manage the daily workflow for the milling cell, ensuring that machines (Haas, Makino, etc.) are utilized effectively to meet production schedules.
• Complex Fixturing & Setup: Design and implement sophisticated work-holding and fixturing solutions to handle difficult-to-machine gear components and housings.
• Mentorship & Training: Act as the primary technical resource for Mill Machinists, providing hands-on training on setup techniques, tool selection, and print interpretation.
• Process Standardization: Develop and document "Standard Operating Procedures" (SOPs) for recurring jobs to ensure consistency across all shifts.
• Quality Guard: Troubleshoot dimensions that drift out of tolerance and work with the Quality Department to resolve non-conformances using root-cause analysis.
• Tooling Innovation: Stay current with the latest milling technologies—high-speed machining, trochoidal milling, and advanced coatings—to reduce cycle times and improve part finish.

Technical Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years in CNC Milling, with at least 3 years in a Lead or Senior Setup role within a high-precision/low-tolerance environment.
• Multi-Axis Mastery: Expert-level experience with 4-axis and 5-axis vertical and horizontal machining centers.
• Advanced GD&T: Exceptional ability to interpret complex blueprints, including deep knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
• Programming Literacy: Mastery of G-code/M-code and proficiency with CAM software (Mastercam preferred) to optimize paths and troubleshoot programs.
• Precision Measurement: Expert use of all shop metrology tools, including the ability to assist in the setup of CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) programs.