CNC Retrofit Technician

CNC RETROFIT ENGINEER

Fives HPM | Hebron, Kentucky

Join Our Team!

Fives HPM is actively seeking a Retrofit Engineer to join our team in Hebron, Kentucky.

The Retrofit Engineer serves as an engineering point of contact for cross-functional project teams and customers, helping transform and modernize complex machine tools through controls, electrical, mechanical, process, and software solutions.

Learn more about our company: www.fivesgroup.com

About Fives

Corporate Group Overview

Fives is an industrial engineering group with a heritage of more than 200 years. Fives designs and delivers machines, process equipment, and production lines for some of the world's largest industrial companies. We are committed to making industry smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable.

Site Company Overview

Fives HPM designs, builds, installs, and services advanced machine tools and manufacturing systems used by leading manufacturers worldwide. Our team delivers innovative solutions that maximize productivity, precision, and reliability for customers across aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, and industrial markets.

Business Unit Overview

The High Precision Machines (HPM) Division specializes in world-class machine tool technology, automation systems, controls, retrofits, and aftermarket services that support customers throughout the lifecycle of their equipment.

Position Summary

The Retrofit Engineer serves as an engineering point of contact for customers and cross-functional project teams supporting the modernization, upgrade, and retrofit of complex machine tools and manufacturing systems.

This position facilitates coordination among engineering disciplines, including Controls, Mechanical, Electrical, Process, and Software Engineering, to ensure technical requirements and project objectives are successfully achieved.

The Retrofit Engineer is responsible for planning, developing, and managing engineering deliverables and resources required for proposals, development initiatives, and sold projects. The role maintains responsibility for design control, technical guidance, and engineering release activities while monitoring project schedules, budgets, technical risks, and overall engineering performance.

The successful candidate will function as both a design contributor and technical team leader, supporting projects from proposal through design, development, CNC integration, installation, commissioning, and final customer acceptance.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Proactively promote and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for all employees.
• Plan, develop, and manage engineering deliverables and resources.
• Function as both a design contributor and technical team leader.
• Participate in all phases of a project, from proposal through final customer acceptance.
• Coordinate cross-functional technical teams to achieve project goals while minimizing project cost and risk.
• Identify project risks and opportunities and support appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Monitor engineering budgets and schedules across multiple projects.
• Apply working knowledge of engineering-related processes from order entry through installation.
• Lead design reviews, including hazard analyses to assess design safety and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Review, collect, document, and implement lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Provide technical guidance to peers and assigned team members.
• Approach projects, assignments, and technical challenges with a big-picture perspective to identify the best overall solution.
• Work collaboratively with Fives MSI Technology leadership and cross-functional engineering resources.
• Facilitate coordination among Controls, Mechanical, Electrical, Process, and Software Engineering disciplines.
• Manage engineering deliverables required to support proposals, development activities, and sold projects.
• Maintain responsibility for design control, technical guidance, and engineering release activities.
• Support engineering activities associated with machine tool retrofits, modernization, CNC integration, installation, commissioning, and customer acceptance.
• Schedule project engineering tasks and support effective project cost control.
• Provide technical support and engineering expertise throughout machine power-up, debugging, testing, and final customer acceptance.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess a combination of engineering education, machine tool experience, CNC integration expertise, project execution capability, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Education & Certification

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in an Engineering discipline; or four to ten years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience

• Five or more years of experience in a high-technology capital goods manufacturing environment, preferably within the machine tool industry.
• Experience supporting complex machine tool, CNC integration, retrofit, or modernization projects.
• Experience working across multiple engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering.
• Demonstrated knowledge of machine tool end-user processes.
• Experience supporting projects through multiple stages of the lifecycle, from proposal and engineering through installation and customer acceptance.

Technical Knowledge & Experience

• Strong understanding of complex machine tools and manufacturing systems.
• Knowledge of machine tool retrofit and modernization projects.
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering disciplines.
• Ability to specify Siemens and/or FANUC control components, including servo motors, spindle motors, drives, and other components associated with CNC integration.
• Ability to specify electrical components associated with CNC integrations.
• Ability to design electrical schematics using AutoCAD.
• Ability to develop ladder logic, including operator interface or easy-screen functionality.
• Ability to develop and set applicable CNC and PMC parameters.
• Ability to write custom macro programs associated with machine functions such as tool changes, pallet changers, and other automated sequences.
• Ability to power up and debug a machine from the beginning through completion of a CNC integration.
• Ability to load machine parameters and ladder logic into Siemens and/or FANUC controls.
• Ability to set up and test special machine functions based on customer requirements.
• Ability to understand and evaluate technical requirements, engineering designs, and system interfaces.
• Working knowledge of engineering processes throughout the project lifecycle, from order entry through installation and customer acceptance.
• Experience participating in and leading technical design reviews.
• Knowledge of engineering risk-assessment methods, including hazard analysis and FMEA.
• Proficiency with 3D parametric modeling software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of SAP and Microsoft Project.
• Working knowledge of applicable ISO standards.
• Ability to balance technical requirements with project schedule, budget, cost, quality, and risk considerations.

Project & Engineering Leadership

• Ability to plan and coordinate engineering deliverables and technical resources.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, schedules, and engineering requirements simultaneously.
• Ability to coordinate technical teams across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Strong understanding of project risks and opportunities.
• Ability to monitor engineering budgets and project schedules.
• Ability to schedule project tasks and effectively control project costs.
• Ability to serve as an engineering point of contact for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all areas of the organization, including peers and all levels of management.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and direction to engineering team members.
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively as both an individual technical contributor and team leader.
• Ability to understand the business implications of technical and project decisions and maintain an appropriate focus on profitability.

Professional Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Ability to work effectively across engineering disciplines and organizational functions.
• Customer-focused mindset and commitment to successful project execution.
• Ability to take a broad, systems-level approach when evaluating technical challenges and potential solutions.
• Commitment to continuously building knowledge and technical skills.
• Willingness to share knowledge and technical expertise with others.
• Business-minded approach to engineering decisions, including consideration for profitability, cost, schedule, and customer requirements.
• Commitment to safety, quality, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

Travel Requirements

Listed requirements are based on the current projection of business needs and are subject to change based on company workload, capacity, project schedules, and customer requirements.

• Up to 85% to 90% travel required.
• When traveling, assignments may include approximately two weeks on the road followed by one weekend home.
• Must have the flexibility to make quick adjustments to travel arrangements based on customer or company needs.
• When not traveling, the expectation is to work from the Fives facility in Hebron, Kentucky.
• Travel schedules and requirements may vary based on customer demand, project needs, and business priorities.

What We Offer

Fives is proud to provide a comprehensive total rewards package that may include:

• Competitive compensation
• Annual performance incentive opportunities
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career development and training opportunities
• Employee assistance programs
• Opportunities for advancement within a global organization
• Exposure to leading-edge manufacturing technologies and global customers

Why Come to Fives?

By joining Fives, you become part of a global organization committed to innovation, operational excellence, and employee development.

As a Retrofit Engineer, you will have the opportunity to combine hands-on engineering expertise with project and technical leadership to modernize sophisticated manufacturing equipment. You will work across controls, mechanical, electrical, process, and software disciplines while collaborating directly with customers and internal technical teams.

You will also have the opportunity to work directly with Siemens and FANUC CNC technologies, machine controls, electrical systems, automation, and advanced machine tool applications while helping customers extend the capabilities and lifecycle of critical manufacturing equipment.

The role provides the opportunity to influence the entire project lifecycle, from early proposals and technical development through CNC integration, installation, commissioning, and final customer acceptance.

Industry Can Do It With You!

Fives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Fives Group

As an industrial engineering Group with a heritage of over 200 years, Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment, and production lines.