A CNC Technician programmes machinery to make parts for manufacturing industries. Your components could go into cars, machinery or even exhibitions
Computer numerically controlled (CNC) technicians make precision parts for the engineering and manufacturing industries. That’s the industries that make vehicles, aerospace and defence equipment, machinery, or industrial equipment.
The accuracy of parts is essential to make sure engineered products are stable, safe, and achieve their best performance. You could be the technician who makes the parts that improve how trains, planes, cars, and aerospace equipment performs.
The complexity of the parts you produce will increase as you become more experienced and you may be consulted about how to design products, due to your knowledge of how they’re made.
You could progress to leading a team of CNC technicians or become involved in training others.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
You’ll be responsible for machinery, switching it on and off and completing safety checks, before operating it to make precision parts. You will also be responsible for selecting the right tools for each stage of work and making sure the parts you produce are the highest possible performance and safety standards.
This role can also be known by some other job titles including:
CNC Machinist
