What is a machining engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Marco Schoen Ph.D.,

John Dolan

A machining engineer designs and develops manufacturing processes for metal parts using a variety of tools, machines, and software programs. They work with other engineers to determine the most effective methods for producing high-quality parts while minimizing waste and reducing costs. Machining engineers use their expertise to create detailed plans for the production of complex metal components. They also oversee and troubleshoot machinery, and develop new processes to improve efficiency and quality.

What general advice would you give to a machining engineer?

Marco Schoen Ph.D.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Measurement and Control Engineering Research Center (MCERC), Idaho State University

Stay current. Engineering evolves continuously; new tools, new technologies, and new areas where engineers can contribute, learn, and work. When graduating, students have the feeling they are set for their careers. However, this is not true; they might be set to start their careers. To be consistently successful in their pages, they need to stay informed and updated.

ScoreMachining EngineerUS Average

Salary

8.2

Avg. Salary $123,716

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 14.86%

Black or African American 3.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.13%

Unknown 4.59%

White 67.96%

Gender

female 6.45%

male 93.55%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a machining engineer?

Pros

Opportunity to work with advanced machinery and technology
Potential for high salary and job stability due to high demand for machining engineers
Opportunity to work on diverse projects in various industries
Continuous learning and development of skills through new challenges
Ability to work in various settings (factory, office, field)

Cons

Physical demands of the job can be taxing on the body
Long hours and potential for overtime work
Exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals
High-pressure deadlines and expectations from clients or managers
High stress levels due to precision required

Key steps to become a machining engineer

Explore machining engineer education requirements

Most common machining engineer degrees

Bachelor's

53.1 %

Master's

14.8 %

Associate

13.9 %

Start to develop specific machining engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Python	21.54%
Java	20.03%
TensorFlow	10.54%
Spark	9.86%
Deep Learning	9.68%

Complete relevant machining engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New machining engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a machining engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real machining engineer resumes.

Research machining engineer duties and responsibilities

Lead and manage CNC production line including support as required in engineering, material and quality control.
Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
Cross-Connect the cable python to the Mervyns network rack.
Research extended axes to be integrate with the FANUC control system.

Apply for machining engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a machining engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do machining engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Machining engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019

Pros

troubleshooting shouting and redesigning to solve problems troubleshooting sensors and heaters

Cons

nothing so far