CNC Machinist (Nightshift)
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
My client is an international design and manufacturing organisation, with a fantastic reputation in a multitude of different industries. They are well established, with an impressive history over the last 70 years.
Due to recent growth, they are expanding their night shift capability, and are therefore looking to add an experienced CNC Machinist to join their site on the outskirts of Edinburgh. This role will be Monday - Thursday 19:00 - 07:00 (46hrs per week)
This opportunity will be well suited to a machine setter / programmer who can operate a variety of machines to produce high quality parts from a variety of different materials, and to precision tolerances consistently.
Experience required:
- Extensive knowledge of different CNC programming languages including Fanuc, Mazatrol, Heidenhain, Siemens would be beneficial (training in specific languages where experience is limited will be offered)
- Manufacturing high precision parts using a variety of different materials
- CNC machining in a high-volume production environment would be advantageous
- Proven ability to interpret complex drawing requirements and generate repeatable and efficient CNC machining solutions
- Experience of developing less experienced team members would be beneficial
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Lead your CV with a Personal Statement that explicitly names Fanuc, Mazatrol, Heidenhain, and Siemens — the advert lists all four as key differentiators and ATS will scan for these exact terms.
📊 Quantify your precision machining experience: e.g. "Machined 200+ components per week to tolerances of ±0.01mm across aluminium, steel, and titanium substrates."
🌐 Highlight your night-shift or extended-hours experience directly in your work history — the role is Monday–Thursday 19:00–07:00 (46 hrs), so demonstrating reliability on unsociable hours is a key differentiator.
🎯 Include a dedicated 'Machines Operated' section listing every CNC controller and machine type you have set and programmed — this mirrors the advert's emphasis on operating a variety of machines.
🤝 If you have mentored or coached junior machinists, call this out explicitly with a metric (e.g. "Supported upskilling of 3 apprentice machinists over 12 months") as the advert specifically values experience developing less experienced team members.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Programmed and set 4-axis CNC machining centres using Fanuc and Heidenhain controllers, producing 150+ precision components per week to tolerances of ±0.005mm across stainless steel, aluminium, and titanium.
- •Reduced first-off rejection rate from 8% to 2% over 6 months by implementing a standardised pre-run drawing review and tooling verification checklist across a 12-machine nightshift cell.
- •Mentored 3 junior CNC operators in Mazatrol programming and machine setting, enabling the team to absorb a 20% increase in production volume without additional headcount.
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Letter preview — tailored to Zachary Daniels
Dear Hiring Manager,
Precision CNC machining across multiple controller platforms — Fanuc, Mazatrol, Heidenhain, and Siemens — is where I have built my career, which is why the nightshift CNC Machinist opportunity at your Edinburgh-area facility, recruited through Zachary Daniels, immediately stood out. My experience spans high-volume production environments where consistent adherence to tight tolerances across a range of materials is non-negotiable.
My background in CNC setting, programming, and operation has seen me produce complex, high-precision components from engineering drawings with minimal supervision, routinely achieving first-off acceptance rates above 95%. I have also supported the development of less experienced machinists on the shop floor, providing hands-on guidance that reduced scrap rates within the team by approximately 12% over six months.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Walk us through how you would set up and prove out a new CNC program from a complex engineering drawing — what steps do you follow to ensure first-off accuracy?
- ›Which CNC programming languages have you used in production — Fanuc, Mazatrol, Heidenhain, or Siemens — and what are the key differences you've encountered between them?
- ›How do you approach machining a component that requires tight tolerances across multiple operations on different machine types?
- ›Describe a situation where you identified a recurring dimensional non-conformance. What root cause analysis did you apply and how did you resolve it?
- ›What materials have you machined, and how do you adjust feeds, speeds, and tooling strategies when switching between, say, hardened steel and aluminium?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to produce a high-precision component under significant time pressure. How did you manage quality and output simultaneously?
- ›Describe an occasion when you helped a less experienced colleague improve their machining skills. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?
- ›Give an example of when you identified a process inefficiency on the shop floor and took the initiative to improve it. What did you change and what was the result?
- ›Tell me about a time you had to interpret an ambiguous or incomplete engineering drawing. How did you resolve the uncertainty before committing to machining?
- ›Describe a period when you worked a demanding shift pattern (nights or extended hours). How did you maintain your performance and quality standards throughout?
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to produce a high-precision component under significant time pressure. How did you manage quality and output simultaneously?
Describe an occasion when you helped a less experienced colleague improve their machining skills. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?