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Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

$60.8K Median Salary 4.1K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 27.3% Job Growth

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About This Career

Develop programs to control machining or processing of materials by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems. May also set up, operate, or maintain equipment.

Reported Job Titles

CAD CAM Programmer (Computer-Aided Design Computer-Aided Manufacturing Programmer), Computer Numerical Control Machinist (CNC Machinist), Computer Numerical Control Programmer (CNC Programmer), Programmer

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Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Information Ordering

Near Vision

Perceptual Speed

Problem Sensitivity

Mathematical Reasoning

Visualization

Category Flexibility

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Number Facility

Oral Comprehension

Selective Attention

Written Comprehension

Control Precision

Flexibility of Closure

Written Expression

Finger Dexterity

Fluency of Ideas

Oral Expression

Reaction Time

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Speed of Closure

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics

Mechanical

Mathematics

Production and Processing

Design

Engineering and Technology

English Language

Administration and Management

Education and Training

Skills

Programming

Monitoring

Operations Monitoring

Active Learning

Complex Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Judgment and Decision Making

Mathematics

Reading Comprehension

Systems Analysis

Writing

Active Listening

Systems Evaluation

Coordination

Operation and Control

Operations Analysis

Quality Control Analysis

Speaking

Time Management

Troubleshooting

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software

Video conferencing software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Object or component oriented development software

Spreadsheet software

Electronic mail software

Enterprise application integration software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Analytical or scientific software

Presentation software

Project management software

Tools

Drill press or radial drill

Calipers

Automatic lathe or chucking machine

Coordinate measuring machines CMM

Dial indicator or dial gauge

Hydraulic press brake

Micrometers

Radius gauge

Thread pitch gauge

Comparators

Squares

Thickness measuring devices

Wire gauge

Power grinders

Height gauges

Profile gauge

Angle gauge

Pin gauge

Turret lathe

Laser cutting machine

Sine bar

Vertical turning center

Traveling column milling machine

Protractors

Precision surface plate

Metal cutters

Hole gauge

Metallurgical microscopes

Abilities

Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills

Programming: Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Video conferencing software: Teleconferencing software
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: 1CadCam Unigraphics; Geometric CAMWorks; Siemens NX
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP software
Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise application integration software: Electronic Data Interchange EDI systems
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software: Mavenlink; Microsoft Project

Tools

Drill press or radial drill: Drill presses; Punch presses; Radial drills
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Automatic lathe or chucking machine: Bench lathes
Coordinate measuring machines CMM: Verisurf 3Dgage; Verisurf CMM Master
Dial indicator or dial gauge: Dial indicators
Hydraulic press brake: Hydraulic squeezers
Micrometers:
Radius gauge: Diameter gauges; Digital radius gauges
Thread pitch gauge: Thread ring gauges
Comparators: Optical comparators
Squares:
Thickness measuring devices: Digital thickness gauges
Wire gauge: Wire gauge testers
Power grinders: Underwater power grinders
Height gauges:
Profile gauge: Transfer gages
Angle gauge: Flute gauges; Hammer angle gauges
Pin gauge: Pin gauges
Turret lathe: Turret lathes
Laser cutting machine: Laser cutters
Sine bar: Compound sine bars
Vertical turning center: Computer numerical control CNC vertical lathes; Vertical spindle mills
Traveling column milling machine: Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines
Protractors:
Precision surface plate: Metalworking surface plates
Metal cutters: Aviation snips
Hole gauge: Small hole gauges
Metallurgical microscopes:

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