CNC Programmer
Posted Mar 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a time you took over or inherited a CNC program that was running poorly, maybe too slow or with quality issues, and what you did to fix it.
What they are checking: real experience improving throughput and tooling costs, not just writing new programs from scratch
Tell me about a time you had to explain a machining problem or a program change to someone who wasn't a programmer, like an operator or a maintenance tech.
What they are checking: ability to communicate technical detail clearly across roles, which the posting calls out directly
Describe a situation where you had to hand off a program or a shift note between first and second shift, and something got lost in translation. What happened and what changed after that?
What they are checking: understanding of the cross-shift handoff demands of this specific second-shift role
Tell me about a machine tool or control you had to learn on the job, maybe a Mazak, Okuma, Tsugami, or Fanuc-based system you hadn't used before. How did you get up to speed?
What they are checking: adaptability across the variety of machine tools and controls this shop actually runs
What would you do
Say a part is coming off the machine and the CMM report shows it's out of tolerance on a critical dimension, but the program looks correct on paper. What do you check first?
What they are checking: troubleshooting instincts and whether they know how to separate program error from setup, tooling wear, or fixture issues
You're asked to train an entry-level programmer while also carrying your own program load for the shift. How do you balance that?
What they are checking: willingness and approach to mentoring without dropping their own responsibilities, since the role requires training
If you noticed a tool was wearing faster than expected on a long-running job and nobody had flagged it yet, what would you do before it becomes a scrap problem?
What they are checking: proactive ownership and initiative without being told, which the posting explicitly asks for
About the work
Walk me through how you'd program a part that needs to run on a mill-turn machine, starting from the engineering drawing or 3D model all the way to a proven-out program.
What they are checking: whether they have a real end-to-end process rather than just knowing isolated CAM commands
How do you decide on speeds and feeds when you're cutting something like aluminum versus a stainless or alloy steel part, and how much do you rely on the machine's capability versus the material?
What they are checking: depth of hands-on machining knowledge versus book knowledge
What's your experience with Mastercam, and can you describe a program where you used parametric or variable-based programming instead of a straight toolpath?
What they are checking: actual depth with the named CAM tool and comfort with macro-level programming, not just menu-driven CAM use
How do you approach fixture or workholding design when you're given a new part with no existing setup?
What they are checking: whether they can advise on fixturing rather than just assuming a fixture is handed to them
Have you ever edited or updated a CAM post processor, or worked with Macro B or similar parametric programming? Walk me through an example.
What they are checking: whether the candidate actually has the preferred deeper programming skill or is just familiar with the terms
How do you read GD&T callouts on a drawing to figure out what actually matters for your program versus what's just informational?
What they are checking: real fluency with GD&T rather than surface familiarity
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Mercury Marine.