Full-Time

Senior Tooling & Machining Engineer

Posted on 11/23/2025

Ocean Optics

Ocean Optics

51-200 employees

Manufactures portable spectrometers and sensing solutions

No salary listed

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

In Person

Category
Mechanical Engineering (1)
Requirements
  • Proficient in manual machining (lathe, vertical mill, and cylindrical grinding)
  • Experience in die set maintenance and inspection in a manufacturing setting
  • Hands-on experience with Hurco CNC machines and bar feed equipment, including setup of tool turret/carrousels and bar feed system programming
  • Familiarity with Fanuc CNC controls and basic troubleshooting
  • Competent in the maintenance and functional assessment of jigs and fixture systems
  • Ability to interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and tolerance specifications
  • Good understanding of CNC programming and machine operation practices
  • Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently
  • High school diploma or equivalent required
  • Technical certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree in machining, toolmaking, or a related field preferred
  • Minimum of 10+ years’ experience in a tooling, machining, or maintenance role
Responsibilities
  • Operate manual machine tools including lathe, vertical mill, and cylindrical grinder to refurbish and maintain tooling and blade components
  • Evaluate tooling condition and carry out dimensional restoration and rework as required
  • Maintain records of tooling refurbishment, including measurements, wear assessments, and repair history
  • Ensure a full stock of toolroom components including spares of critical spares for blades, anvils and other tooling as needed. Self-management of this and where necessary work with engineering manager to make budgetary decisions
  • Perform routine and preventive maintenance on die sets, including disassembly, cleaning, inspection, and reassembly
  • Identify and rectify wear, damage, or misalignment in die components to prevent unplanned downtime
  • Assist with root cause analysis of die-related faults and contribute to corrective actions
  • Maintain and manage tool room stores of critical die set components ensuring stock is always available to minimise downtime. Responsible for ordering of stock through buyer to facilitate the above
  • Set up, operate, and maintain Hurco CNC lathe and associated bar feed systems
  • Perform adjustments to tool offsets, feeds, and speeds to maintain consistent product quality and optimise cycle times
  • Conduct periodic checks and coordinate maintenance of CNC equipment to ensure reliability
  • Continued development of internal machines, tool library and program storage along with continued improvement of tooling selection to improve efficiency and cycle times
  • Provide support for CNC production equipment utilising Fanuc controls
  • Perform basic diagnostics, machine adjustments, and process checks during production
  • Assist in program edits to optimise cycle times and reduce tool wear
  • Responsible for maintenance, inspection, repair and overhaul of jigs and fixture systems used across various production cells
  • Assess fixture wear, alignment, and operational condition, and perform necessary repairs or adjustments
  • Collaborate with production and engineering teams to improve fixture functionality and support process stability
  • Offer technical support and take part in engineering decisions regarding the upkeep, design and replacement of crucial fixtures
  • Provide engineering technical support to a range of mechanical and process issues suggesting changes or improvements where necessary to include some maintenance work where necessary
  • Responsible for setup and upkeep of onsite tool room area including housekeeping, stock management of cutting tools and spare parts
  • Optimization of existing processes and equipment and where appropriate develop suggestions for areas of improvement either through changes to existing methods or through addition of new equipment or systems
  • Take part in group engineering discussions to offer support and experienced knowledge on how part design can be optimised for both easier machine and better cost
  • Play an active part in the OsecoElfab engineering apprenticeship scheme by training and mentoring apprentices and where suitable suggesting ideas for additional apprentice intakes
  • Maintain a clean, organised, and safe work environment in accordance with company safety procedures
  • Ensure all work is performed to defined quality standards and within required timelines as agreed with through daily alignment with engineering and operational leadership teams
  • Perform other duties as assigned by management, including participation in special projects or cross-functional support activities
  • Ensure adequate training and development of junior team members in line with agreed development plan and ensure they are progressing as required to alleviate business risk
Desired Qualifications
  • Technical certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree in machining, toolmaking, or a related field preferred

Ocean Optics makes compact spectroscopy hardware and related optical sensing tools. Its flagship products are miniature, portable spectrometers used to measure light across wavelengths for scientists and engineers in fields like chemical analysis, environmental monitoring, and industrial sensing. The devices work by detecting light that passes through or reflects from a sample and translating it into a spectrum—the distribution of light by wavelength—using optical components and a small detector. The company differentiates itself with a modular approach and small, affordable spectrometers that can be integrated into custom systems or handheld devices, enabling researchers to build compact spectroscopic tools rather than relying on large, expensive lab equipment. Ocean Optics' goal is to broaden access to spectral data by providing versatile, scalable sensing solutions that allow users to deploy spectroscopy across a wide range of applications and environments.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Dunedin, Florida

Founded

1989

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Edmund Optics partnership expands global distribution since August 2025.
  • Halma acquisition in 2004 enables cross-selling in water treatment.
  • Miniaturization trend boosts IoT and remote sensing market capture.

What critics are saying

  • Chinese manufacturers commoditize miniature spectrometers, eroding moats.
  • Halma underinvests R&D versus PerkinElmer and Shimadzu focus.
  • International Light Technologies acquisition threatens operational autonomy.

What makes Ocean Optics unique

  • Ocean Optics released world's first miniature spectrometer in 1992.
  • Pioneered modular spectroscopy for portable environmental sensing.
  • Leads in high SNR Ocean SR series spectrometers since 2023.

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Benefits

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

-15%
Ocean Optics
Aug 12th, 2025
Ocean Optics Partners with Edmund Optics for Global Distribution

ORLANDO, Fla. - (August 14, 2025) - Ocean Optics, a pioneer in modular spectroscopy and a trusted name in optical sensing, is proud to announce a new Supplier Partner relationship with Edmund Optics.

Ocean Optics
Jun 23rd, 2025
Ocean Optics Launches Bioz Tool

To further enhance visibility and engagement, Ocean Optics has also added a Bioz Homepage Banner, ensuring that visitors immediately discover the powerful citation management capabilities available on its website.

EIN News
Sep 8th, 2023
Ocean Insight Announces Richard Curran as New President

Ocean Insight announces Richard Curran as new president.

Ocean Insight
Jun 22nd, 2023
Women in Engineering Day 2023

Ocean Insight has been named the Best Place to Work in both Central Florida and New York state.

Ocean Insight
May 3rd, 2023
Press Release: New Ocean SR series

Orlando, Florida, USA (May 4, 2023) – Ocean Optics, a brand of Ocean Insight, introduces compact, versatile Ocean SR series spectrometers distinguished by their rapid spectral acquisition speed and high signal to noise ratio (SNR) performance.

INACTIVE