About Lydwood
Lydwood (Glos) Ltd manufactures wooden components and products for a wide range of industrial and commercial purposes, including retail displays, specialist engineering projects, signage, furniture and much more.
We have 8 CNC routers alongside more than 80 other woodworking machines, allowing us to manufacture everything from one-off prototypes to high-volume production runs.
We are an engineering-led business that works with wood. We enjoy solving problems, developing practical designs and finding more efficient ways to manufacture high-quality products.
The Role
We are looking for a practical and technically minded CAD designer / CNC Programmer to join our team of existing designers and programmers.
The role is primarily focused on CAD design, design for manufacture and CNC programming. However, it is not purely a desk-based position. You will also work closely with our production team to prove out new programs, resolve manufacturing problems and ensure designs can be produced accurately and efficiently.
The work is varied. One day you may be developing a new product from a customer brief, and the next you could be reviewing a technical drawing, preparing a CNC program or working with an operator to improve a machining process. Much of our work is new / bespoke business, so our programmers are always being challenged.
You do not need previous experience of timber or woodworking. Candidates from other CNC manufacturing environments are encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities
CAD Design and Product Development
- Produce accurate 2D and 3D CAD models, technical drawings and manufacturing information.
- Use Fusion 360, Alphacam or similar CAD/CAM software.
- Review and interpret customer drawings, specifications and design requirements.
- Develop practical designs that balance customer requirements with efficient manufacturing methods.
- Take into account challenges and limitations of timber as a material when producing a design.
- Modify existing products and drawings following customer or production feedback.
- Collaborate with customers, suppliers and production colleagues to resolve technical challenges.
- Identify opportunities to improve manufacturability, quality and production efficiency.
- Support the development of new and existing Lydwood products, including simulated product testing using Fusion360.
- Maintain organised design files, drawings and revision records.
CNC Programming
- Create CNC routing programs using Alphacam.
- Proactively optimise programs to improve machining time, material utilisation, quality and reliability.
- Take into account challenges and limitations of timber as a material when producing a CNC program (training will be given).
- Maintain organised CNC program libraries and revision control.
- Troubleshoot programming and machining problems.
- Quality checking programs to ensure they are safe for release to production.
- Select appropriate machining strategies, tooling, feeds and speeds.
- Investigate new programming methods, tooling solutions and software capabilities.
Production Support
- Work with CNC operators to prove out new programs and manufacture first-off components.
- Provide clear drawings, programs and manufacturing information to production.
- Assist with machine setting and tooling selection where required.
- Investigate quality or production issues and help implement practical solutions.
- Improve existing programs and manufacturing methods based on production feedback.
- Support manufacturing costings and technical quotations where required.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Experience using CAD software in a manufacturing, product design or engineering environment.
- Experience producing and interpreting technical drawings.
- A good understanding of CNC machining, routing or computer-controlled manufacturing.
- Strong mechanical and practical understanding.
- Excellent attention to detail and a high standard of accuracy.
- A methodical approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to manage several projects and priorities.
- Ability to work collaboratively with customers, designers, machine operators and management.
- An understanding of health and safety requirements within a manufacturing environment.
Desirable Experience
The following would be beneficial but is not essential:
- Fusion 360 experience.
- Alphacam experience.
- CNC router programming or operation.
- Experience proving out CNC programs and first-off components.
- Knowledge of tooling, feeds, speeds and machining strategies.
- Experience designing products for manufacture.
- Experience with timber, panel products, furniture, joinery or woodworking machinery.
- Experience supporting quotations, manufacturing costings or new product development.
Training can be provided in Alphacam, timber machining and our specific manufacturing processes.
What We Offer
- Varied and technically interesting work.
- Involvement in projects from initial customer requirements through to manufacture.
- The opportunity to see your designs become finished products.
- A wide range of CNC machinery, woodworking equipment and engineering software.
- Opportunities to improve manufacturing methods and introduce new ideas.
- Training and development in areas where you may have less experience.
- A growing business with ambitious plans for the future.
- A supportive team led by people with practical engineering backgrounds.
- An early finish on Fridays. Standard hours 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 12.30pm on Fridays.
To apply, please submit your CV along with a brief explanation of your relevant CAD, CAM, CNC or manufacturing experience.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £32,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
