CNC Programmer & Operator

Company Description

Exhibit Manufacturing of Rochester (EMR) is the manufacturing division of RES Exhibit Services. Together, RES and EMR bring strategy, design, engineering, fabrication, and execution under one roof to create custom exhibits, branded environments, displays, and event experiences for high-visibility moments.

Today, RES is entering its next chapter with refreshed leadership, a sharper brand direction, new client momentum, and a renewed focus on clarity, accountability, creativity, and measurable results. EMR plays a critical role in that future by providing the hands-on manufacturing capability that turns RES designs and engineered plans into finished physical environments.

Why This Role Matters Now

At EMR, CNC programming and operation help turn engineered ideas into accurate, buildable components. This role sits within EMR, the manufacturing division of RES Exhibit Services, and works at an important point between RES Engineering and EMR Manufacturing. The position translates BOM drawings, shop drawings, and production information into CNC programs and finished parts that support custom exhibits, branded environments, displays, and experiential projects.

The right CNC Programmer & Operator will bring technical skill, mechanical judgment, accuracy, and dependable follow-through to custom work. This is a hands-on EMR manufacturing role for someone who takes pride in craftsmanship, works well with carpenters and engineers, and wants to help strengthen production standards across EMR and RES.

Job Description

Exhibit Manufacturing of Rochester (EMR), the manufacturing division of RES Exhibit Services, is looking for an experienced CNC Programmer & Operator to support the production of custom exhibit and experiential components with precision, efficiency, and pride in the finished result. This blended role reviews engineering information, creates CNC cut sheets and production-ready files, programs the CNC equipment, and operates the machine to produce accurate, high-quality parts.

In this role, you will be part of the EMR manufacturing team and work closely with EMR carpenters, fabricators, and shop leadership, as well as the RES Engineering team. You will help ensure custom designs are translated accurately into production, identify questions early, resolve basic programming or tooling issues, and maintain a safe, organized, and reliable CNC work area.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty:

• Review BOM drawings, shop drawings, engineering documentation, and production plans to determine CNC production requirements.
• Create CNC cut sheets, nesting layouts, and productionready files for custom exhibit components.
• Program CNC equipment for cutting, routing, drilling, and machining.
• Set up, operate, and monitor CNC equipment to ensure accurate and efficient production.
• Load materials, select tooling, adjust machine settings, and verify setups before running jobs.
• Perform quality checks to confirm parts meet drawings and specifications before they move to carpentry, fabrication, or assembly.
• Work with carpenters, fabricators, shop leadership, and the RES Engineering team to resolve questions and improve manufacturability.
• Troubleshoot basic machine, material, tooling, setup, and programming issues.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized CNC work area and follow proper machine operating procedures.
• Support a collaborative manufacturing environment focused on safety, craftsmanship, accuracy, accountability, and ontime completion.
• Manage multiple production priorities while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and followthrough.
• Communicate clearly regarding drawing questions, material needs, machine concerns, production status, and potential risks or delays.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means CNC programs and cut sheets are accurate, machine setups are verified, finished parts meet specifications, production questions are addressed early, and downstream teams receive dependable work that is ready for assembly. The strongest candidates will be mechanically inclined, safety-minded, collaborative, detail-oriented, accountable, and comfortable working in a custom environment where every project is different and the details matter.

Education and Experience

Experience in exhibits, displays, millwork, cabinetry, scenic fabrication, or other custom manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with routing wood, laminates, plastics, composites, and other sheet materials.
• Working knowledge of carpentry, joinery, fabrication methods, and material behavior.
• Forklift or materialhandling experience.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Rochester, New York. The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $28/hour - $32/hour, and individual pay is determined based on several factors, including, but not limited to, work experience, job knowledge, complexity of the role, job location, etc. Pay ranges included in postings generally reflect base salary; certain positions may include bonus, commission, or additional benefits.

Benefits

As the manufacturing division of RES Exhibit Services, EMR employees are eligible for RES benefits, including competitive compensation and performance-based incentives, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.

Beyond the formal benefits, this role offers hands-on work tied to real clients and high-visibility events; direct collaboration with RES Engineering, design, graphics, warehouse, and client teams; a 125,000-square-foot manufacturing environment; and the opportunity to help strengthen the standards of EMR as RES enters its next chapter.

Exhibit Manufacturing of Rochester (EMR), as the manufacturing division of RES Exhibit Services, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and 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 legally protected characteristic or status.

About RES Exhibit Services LLC

A PROUD HISTORY. A FUTURE BUILT TO PERFORM. RES has helps organizations bring complex exhibit and event programs to life through disciplined planning, creative thinking, and dependable execution. Our history is rooted in a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver for global brands in demanding environments. That experience continues to shape how we work today: with precision, accountability, collaboration, and a clear focus on results. As RES moves forward, we are building on that foundation with new ideas, expanded capabilities, and a renewed commitment to creating experiences that connect people, strengthen brands, and drive measurable outcomes. Our history gives us perspective. Our future is focused on what comes next—engineered wonder, built to perform.