Tooling and Molding Manager (Technical Lead)

Role details

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Location

Rockland County, New York

Typical Schedule

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Salary

$130,000 annually + discretionary annual bonus

Employment Type

Full-Time, Manufacturing Facility-Based

About the Position

We are a growing ISO 9001:2015 manufacturing company seeking an experienced, hands-on

Tooling & Molding Manager

to lead our injection molding, tooling, mold maintenance, process development, and in-house tool room operations.

This is a highly technical, plant-floor leadership role for an experienced professional who combines injection molding expertise, Scientific Molding, mold design and maintenance, CNC machining, plastics/materials knowledge, automation, process development, and people management .

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable in the engineering office, tool room, and production environment. This individual must be capable of designing molds from concept through completion, diagnosing complex molding and tooling problems, optimizing processes, and personally performing hands-on technical work when required.

We are looking for a

technical leader who leads by example

, maintains high standards, solves problems independently, and develops practical, reliable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day injection molding operations, including machine and mold setup, startup, process parameters, auxiliary equipment, material handling, inspection, and production support.
• Apply Scientific Injection Molding / Scientific Molding principles to develop, troubleshoot, validate, and optimize processes for quality, consistency, cycle time, yield, and productivity.
• Lead process development, R&D, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Design injection molds from concept through completion, including new molds, modifications, inserts, fixtures, and custom tooling.
• Lead mold maintenance, repair, modification, improvement, and hot runner troubleshooting activities.
• Manage the Company's in-house tool room, including personnel, equipment, workflow, priorities, and projects.
• Perform and oversee machining, fabrication, repair, and modification of molds, tooling, fixtures, and machine components using CNC mills, lathes, EDMs, grinders, lasers, and related equipment.
• Design and fabricate custom manufacturing components, fixtures, and End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT).
• Support automated manufacturing equipment and processes, working with automation engineers to improve reliability, throughput, quality, and efficiency.
• Provide technical support for molding equipment, tooling, automation, and related manufacturing systems, while coordinating with the Company's broader maintenance function.
• Establish and maintain mold preventative maintenance programs and ensure accurate PM, repair, and troubleshooting records.
• Apply strong knowledge of plastics, polymers, resins, additives, colorants, and injection molding materials/processes to improve products and processes, ensure quality, and troubleshoot material and processing issues.
• Ensure adherence to the Company's ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and maintain accurate technical and process documentation.
• Lead, train, and develop tooling, molding, setup, and related manufacturing personnel while establishing priorities and maintaining accountability.
• Spend significant time on the plant floor and in the tool room, leading by example and providing hands-on technical support.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required, preferably Mechanical, Plastics, Manufacturing, or a related discipline. An advanced engineering/technical degree is strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of directly related experience in injection molding, tooling, mold design, plastics processing, machining, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related field.
• Prior management and supervisory experience required.
• Advanced expertise in Scientific Molding / Scientific Injection Molding, including process development, optimization, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
• Proven ability to design injection molds from scratch and extensive experience with mold maintenance, repair, hot runners, inserts, modifications, and tooling troubleshooting.
• Expertise with SolidWorks and other CAD/CAM software, with demonstrable ability to create, read, and interpret engineering, mold, and part drawings.
• Strong hands-on experience with CNC machining, EDM, turning, milling, grinding, and related tool room operations.
• Experience designing and fabricating custom tooling, fixtures, manufacturing components, and EOAT.
• Experience with manufacturing automation and working knowledge of electrical/electronic systems used in molding and automation.
• Strong technical knowledge of plastics chemistry, polymer behavior, resin processing, and additives and other injection molding materials.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and technical documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be:

• Hands-on, technically strong, and comfortable working directly on the plant floor and in the tool room.
• Affable, agreeable, and a positive addition to the Company’s culture.
• Highly organized, performance-driven, detail-oriented, and accountable.
• An independent problem solver capable of diagnosing complex technical issues and developing practical solutions.
• An effective manager who can establish priorities, delegate, develop employees, and maintain accountability.
• Committed to quality, customer satisfaction, safety, cleanliness, and continuous improvement.
• Dependable, punctual, and reliable, with an unquestioned commitment to attendance and work ethic.
• Comfortable working in a fast-growing manufacturing environment where priorities can change and immediate technical support may be required.

Work Location & Other Requirements

This is a full-time, manufacturing-facility-based position in Rockland County, New York.

Candidates must presently live within a reasonable daily commuting distance of Rockland County. This position requires regular on-site presence and is not a remote or hybrid position.

Candidates must also be able to pass mandatory initial and random drug testing as a condition of employment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $130,000 per year
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Stable, positive work environment
• Participation in the Company's benefits plan upon eligibility
• Participation in the Company's 401(k) plan upon eligibility
• Paid vacation and personal days upon eligibility

Schedule

Typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (with occasional work-related exceptions)

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to maintaining a professional, respectful, and performance-oriented workplace and to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified candidates.