Tooling Engineer

Role details

Tooling Engineer – Injection Molding

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Tooling Engineer to manage the procurement, design, and development of high-quality injection molds for plastic manufacturing. Reporting to the Manager of Engineering, this role serves as the primary technical liaison between customers, suppliers, and internal teams, ensuring tooling projects meet customer specifications, quality standards, budgets, and delivery schedules.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage tooling projects from initial planning through mold procurement, approval, and production release.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Support Cost Estimating with customer quotations and technical requirements.
• Coordinate outside tooling suppliers to ensure molds are delivered on time and meet quality standards.
• Manage the APQP process and communicate project progress, risks, and issues to stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project timelines, budgets, and schedules while tracking scope changes and financial impacts.
• Review customer product designs for moldability, steel conditions, cost-saving opportunities, quality improvements, and reduced lead times.
• Review and approve new mold designs and modifications to ensure compliance with customer specifications and internal tooling standards.
• Lead project review meetings and coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality Control, Scheduling, Procurement, and suppliers.
• Oversee mold-filling analysis and support tooling design, validation, and release activities.
• Maintain accurate project records and updates through ERP, APQP, and other reporting systems.
• Follow all applicable safety requirements and perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Plastics, Polymer, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience in mold making, mold design, or tooling engineering.
• 6+ years of experience in injection molding, tooling, and engineering.
• Strong knowledge of plastic injection molds, mold design and construction, thermoplastic and engineering resins, injection molding equipment, and molding processes.
• Experience setting up, running, and interpreting Mold Filling Analysis (MFA) .
• Proficiency in 3D CAD for product or tooling design; ability to view, translate, and modify customer design files.
• Knowledge of drafting, tolerancing, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Demonstrated project management, scheduling, and coordination skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams/SharePoint.
• Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and customer relationship management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional-level SolidWorks 3D CAD experience.
• Background in mold making and product design.
• Experience with scientific molding and mold-filling analysis.
• Project Management certification.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Familiarity with formal project management methodologies and project management software.