You may have never heard of them, but there's a growing demand for computer numerically controlled machine tool programmers and operators.

These workers help maintain the machines that keep several companies in the Valley running smoothly.

Matt Floyd at NIBCO in Stuarts Draft received his training at Valley Vocational and Technical Center before working in several machine shops. He helps maintain the company's machines to make sure the parts they produce are of high quality.

"Everything breaks and you'll have to repair it eventually, so machinists can make everything," said Floyd.

Kevin Reed at Metfab International in Waynesboro also received training at Valley Vocational and Technical Center. He helps with preventative maintenance and is also the company's safety adviser.

"You have an operator waiting on you to fix the machine and the customers want their parts, so if I can jump in and get it fixed, it's a win-win situation for everybody," explained Reed.

Economic statistics gathered by the Shenandoah Valley Partnership show the need for 102 CNC Tech positions over the next decade in the Valley.

The typical yearly salary is between $40,000 - $47,000, with the potential to go higher.

"I think it's a good line to get into. There's a big future for it," said Floyd. "You need to stay in school, get your papers to be a certified machinist."

"The most rewarding for me is to get the machines up and going when they go down because the operators have to do their job to get paid and the customers want their parts," said Reed. "So if I can jump in and get the machine up and running with as little downtime as possible, that's pretty rewarding."