Automated Fiber Placement; AFP Programmer

Position: Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) Programmer
Location: Bertram

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) Programmer - (FAP
010926.1)

Share this job as a link in your status update to Linked In.

Posting/External Job Title

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) Programmer

Location

Bertram, TX 78605 US (Primary)

Remote/Onsite/Hybrid

100% Onsite

Job Type

Full-time

# of Hires Needed

1

Education

High School / GED

Travel

Up to 10%

Security Clearance Required

None

Pay Range (All offers will be based on experience)

TBD

Position Introduction/Key Duties

Cimarron is seeking an
Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) Programmer
to support our partnership with Firefly Aerospace at their rocket production facility in the Briggs, TX area (Bertram mailing address). In this role, you will work in concert with Manufacturing Technicians, Manufacturing Engineers, Design Engineers, and other Engineering teams to increase productivity and optimize machining programs and procedures.

Through this partnership, Cimarron supplies skilled technical talent in support of Firefly Aerospace’s advanced launch and space systems. Firefly designs and builds small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles for government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Together, our teams leverage advanced carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across platforms to move fast, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

Key

Duties :

• Generate and maintain CNC programs and setup sheets in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
• Use Siemens NX Surface and Fibersim to generate tool paths, review simulations, check for collisions, and interpret output files.
• Apply knowledge of composite materials and Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) and Advanced Tape Placement (ATP) processes.
• Define and adjust speed and feed parameters to maximize tool life in high-precision, high-risk applications.
• Recommend drawing and design changes to improve manufacturability and CNC programming strategy.
• Design and machine fixture tooling as needed to support production.
• Meet productivity, quality, and production targets.
• Monitor product flow and proactively communicate when production is delayed or at risk.
• Provide feedback and ideas to improve manufacturing processes and efficiency.
• Digitally prove programs and operate with a cautious, detail-oriented approach to prevent head crashes and ensure compliance with AFP machine parameters.

Required/Desired Skills, Experience, and Education Required Skills, Experience, and Education :

• Due to facility security requirements, only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for consideration at this time.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to perform physical tasks, including standing, walking, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying.
• Availability to work overtime and weekends as business needs require.
• 5 or more years of CNC programming experience.
• Experience programming 5-axis CNC machines.
• Proficiency with Siemens NX Surface and Fibersim modeling.
• Experience developing programs for 5-axis milling or large-format gantry operations.
• Strong understanding of gantry kinematics and machine motion.
• High attention to detail and comfort working through repetitive optimization cycles to refine programs.
• Hands-on mindset, including monitoring machine response and adjusting programs to improve performance and reliability.
• High School diploma or equivalent.

Desired Skills, Experience, and Education :

• Experience programming Ingersoll gantry mills or Automated Fiber Placement (Gen2) systems.
• Experience supporting large-format machining or composite fabrication operations.
• Working knowledge of composite manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with Siemens CNC 840D SL controllers and drives.
• Experience with multi-axis mill and lathe CNC machines.
• Coding or scripting experience using Python, macros, Visual Basic, file parsing/editing, or Excel scripts.

Business Profile :

Cimarron is a global solutions company with a strategic partnering approach to satisfying customer-driven requirements. We ensure customer success with a modern approach and experienced leadership. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Cimarron is fueled by highly skilled employees, developing new innovative technologies, and delivering superior products and services. We believe in recognizing employees' worth by offering competitive salaries and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) contributions, educational reimbursement, and much more.

From company communication through Company-wide information meetings led by our President and CEO, to an Awards program designed to recognize our amazing employees and their accomplishments, you will not only feel like you are a part of a team, you will be a valued member of the Cimarron family. Cimarron is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender…