YOU ARE HERE ART
Kitchener, Ontario
Part-Time CNC & Laser Operator
Custom Trophies, Awards & Signage
Part-time 1–2 days/week (weekends welcome)
$22–$32/hr depending on experience
You Are Here Art is a print and signage studio in Kitchener launching a new line of custom-shaped trophies, awards, and signage. We cut shapes from acrylic and wood, then print directly onto them using our Mimaki UV flatbed. We're looking for a CNC operator to own the cutting side of that workflow.
The shop
- AXYZ Infinite CNC router (4×10 bed)
- 40×30" laser cutter for smaller jobs and prototyping
- Mimaki tabletop UV flatbed (4×8) and Mimaki roll printer
- Lamination table
- VCarve Pro, Fusion 360, and full Adobe Creative Suite
What you'd do
- Run the AXYZ for production cuts in acrylic, MDF, plywood, and hardwoods
- Generate toolpaths in VCarve Pro (primary) and Fusion 360 where it makes sense
- Prep and clean up vector files in Adobe Illustrator
- Run the laser cutter for smaller pieces and prototypes
- Nest efficiently, manage offcuts, and dial in feeds and speeds for new materials
- Contribute creative shape ideas as you get comfortable with our product line
- Handle day-to-day machine care: bit changes, dust collection, basic calibration, and keeping the area safe and tidy
What we're hoping you bring
- Hands-on CNC router experience — production shop, sign shop, makerspace, school program, or serious hobbyist all count
- Working knowledge of VCarve Pro — this is what we use day-to-day, so familiarity matters most (Aspire counts as equivalent)
- Comfortable with Adobe Illustrator for vector cleanup and DXF/SVG prep
- Experience cutting acrylic cleanly — chip load, single-flute O-flutes, climb vs. conventional — or the willingness to learn it fast
- Fusion 360 experience is a nice-to-have for the more complex 3D work
- AXYZ-specific experience is a bonus but not required; if you've run any commercial-grade router (ShopBot, MultiCam, CR Onsrud, Thermwood, Biesse) you'll be fine
- Laser cutter experience is welcome, but we can train on that machine
- Reliable, detail-oriented, and takes pride in clean cuts and a tidy shop
Schedule and pay
- 1–2 days per week, roughly 8–16 hours; flexible on which days, including Saturdays or Sundays
- $22–$32/hr based on experience, paid as a part-time employee (T4)
- Strong potential to grow into more hours as the product line ramps up
To apply
Send a short note about your CNC background, the software you've used, and a few photos of cuts you've done — acrylic samples especially welcome — to [email protected]. No formal resume needed; work samples matter more than credentials.
Pay: $22.00-$32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
