numerical tool and process control programmer
Numerical tool and process control programmers develop computer programs to control automatic machines and equipment involved in manufacturing processes. They analyse blueprints and job orders, conduct computer simulations and trial runs.
numerical tool and process control programmer numerical tool and process control programmers develop computer programs to control automatic machines and equipment involved in manufacturing processes. They analyse blueprints and job orders, conduct computer simulations and trial runs. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.59 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Haskell, Erlang, SAS language, statistical process control, Ruby (computer programming).
Pay in the UK
UK: median £56,914 a year for Programmers and software development professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £42,289 to £75,794 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2134). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only numerical tool and process control programmer, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
What you'd actually do
- Determine the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes.
- Analyze job orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, printed circuit board pattern films, and design data to calculate dimensions, tool selection, machine speeds, and feed rates.
- Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to ensure that programs and machinery will function properly and produce items that meet specifications.
- Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks.
- Determine reference points, machine cutting paths, or hole locations, and compute angular and linear dimensions, radii, and curvatures.
- Enter computer commands to store or retrieve parts patterns, graphic displays, or programs that transfer data to other media.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does numerical tool and process control programmer do?
Numerical tool and process control programmers develop computer programs to control automatic machines and equipment involved in manufacturing processes. They analyse blueprints and job orders, conduct computer simulations and trial runs.
What skills does numerical tool and process control programmer need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Haskell, Erlang, SAS language, statistical process control, Ruby (computer programming), Common Lisp. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace numerical tool and process control programmer?
Our AI-durability model gives numerical tool and process control programmer a score of 0.59 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.