CNC Programmer (1st Shift | NW Houston, TX | Manufacturing)

Company Profile:

Founded in 1989, Travis® Body & Trailer, Inc. began operations after purchasing the former facilities of CMC Trailers, Inc. in Houston, Texas. In its early years, the company produced only the classic aluminum end-dump trailer—designs largely unchanged from CMC models of the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, Travis has grown steadily in size and national market presence. This growth has been driven by increased industry demand and a company-wide commitment to becoming the leader in quality through expert craftsmanship and continuous innovation.

Job Purpose:

We are seeking a skilled CNC Programmer with experience in ProNest and EnRoute to develop, optimize, and release fabrication programs supporting our sheet metal and fabrication operations. This hands-on technical role is responsible for converting engineering designs into efficient CNC programs, maximizing material utilization, improving machine productivity, and ensuring high-quality fabrication output.

The ideal candidate has strong sheet metal fabrication knowledge, experience programming CNC cutting and forming equipment, and a passion for continuous improvement. This is a highly collaborative position that works closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Materials teams to keep manufacturing running efficiently and on schedule.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

CNC Programming & Manufacturing Support

• Create, optimize, and release CNC programs, nests, and machine files using ProNest and EnRoute.
• Program fabrication equipment including routers, shears, press brakes, and other CNC machinery.
• Develop efficient nesting strategies to maximize material yield, reduce scrap, and improve throughput.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and Bills of Material (BOMs) to ensure manufacturability and accuracy.
• Convert production work orders into executable fabrication programs and machine-ready files.
• Maintain tooling libraries, bend allowances, machine parameters, and fabrication documentation.
• Support press brake programming, tooling selection, bend sequencing, and forming strategies.

Production & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with fabrication operators to resolve programming, setup, and production issues.
• Collaborate with Engineering to address design changes, manufacturability concerns, and drawing revisions.
• Work with Materials and Production teams to ensure jobs are production-ready and materials are available.
• Adjust priorities and program schedules to support changing production demands and machine capacity.

Process Improvement & Quality

• Continuously improve nesting strategies, machine utilization, and overall fabrication efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to reduce scrap, rework, downtime, and cycle times.
• Ensure programs and fabricated parts meet print requirements, tolerances, and quality standards.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support other manufacturing programming and fabrication activities as needed.

Essential Skills, Experience, and Education:

Required Qualifications

• Technical degree in Manufacturing Technology, Engineering Technology, CAD/CAM, or related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 5+ years of CNC programming experience within a fabrication or sheet metal manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with ProNest and EnRoute programming software.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal fabrication processes, including cutting, routing, forming, and press brake operations.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and Bills of Material.
• Working knowledge of CNC equipment, tooling, material behavior, feeds, speeds, and machine capabilities.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing/ERP systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting plasma, laser, router, or press brake operations.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of fabrication planning, production scheduling, and workflow optimization.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and electronic work order management

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Regularly required to lift, carry, pull and push 50lbs. unassisted
• Regularly standing, stooping, kneeling, bending and turning
• Exposed to outdoor weather temperatures

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Work Hours and Schedules:

• Must be able to work between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM
• Occasional Saturday’s, as required to meet Production needs

Key Competencies:

Consistently Achieves Results - Effectively manages budgets; meets planned financial targets; achieves both top and bottom line growth objectives; readily produces strategies for reducing or avoiding costs without compromising quality; meets the Customer’s satisfaction level; meets or exceeds the standards set for the position specific responsibilities.

Analytical Abilities - Makes recommendations based on solid assumptions when solving complex problems; analyzes data to obtain meaningful information; identifies conflicting or inaccurate information.

Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at first answers.

Interpersonal Skills - Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the company; builds appropriate rapport; listens; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; truly values people; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.

Customer Focus - Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external Customers; gets Customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; considers Customers in all business practices; establishes and maintains effective relationships with Customers.