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- Make precision parts for the engineering and manufacturing industries
- Option to move into quality inspection or become an engineering technician
- Most jobs will require you to wear protective overalls, boots, goggles and ear defenders
CNC machinists make precision parts for the automotive, power, aerospace and manufacturing industries. You'll work with metals, wood, composites and plastics, and CNC tools like lathes, cutting machines, drills and presses.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Programming the CNC machine tool with data taken from technical drawings
- Working out the most efficient order to carry out machining tasks
- Choosing the right tools for each stage
- Setting the cutting speeds and tolerance levels
- Operating the machine
- Checking the work meets quality and technical standards
- Maintaining equipment
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll spend most of your time in a factory or workshop, operating and monitoring the machines. For most jobs, you'll wear protective overalls, boots, goggles and ear defenders. Your working environment may be noisy.
You'll need
This role is ideal for someone with the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools, and the ability to work on your own.
A common way to get into this career is through an intermediate apprenticeship as an engineering operative or a furniture CNC technician advanced apprenticeship, if you're working in the furniture manufacturing industry.
You could also do a college course to learn some of the practical engineering skills that employers want. Relevant courses include level 1 Certificate in Performing Engineering Operations, level 1 Certificate in Engineering and Manufacturing and level 2 Certificate in Mechanical Engineering.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience and further training, you could move into a supervisory role. You could also move into quality inspection or become an engineering technician.