Principal Tooling Engineer

About the role

The Principal Tooling Engineer is a senior individual contributor providing advanced tooling support focused on on-site tool design, troubleshooting, and mold diagnostics to stabilize production across multiple Viant sites. The role leads/supports tooling execution from RFQ/DFM through build and qualification/validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), using structured root cause analysis and data-driven decisions to resolve complex issues and strengthen long-term robustness. This position also supports quoting and early customer engagements (tool concept and simulation-informed input) and serves as a key technical interface among Viant sites, customers, and tool shops to ensure alignment, compliance, and reliable production outcomes.

What you'll do

• Tool fabrication cycle: Support Project Managers throughout the tool build cycle.
• Project initiations: Provide support to site QE on how to measure dimensions, supporting correlation between Viant manufacturing location, mold shop, & customer, support measurement fixture design and manage fabrication.
• Work with Site Tooling Engineer on requirements throughout design.
• Work with Process Engineer on requirements throughout design and development.
• Provide engineering support for business development to sell tooling solutions and solve tooling issues.
• Provide engineering support for existing tool modification and repairs.
• Supervise tooling bench inspection upon receipt at Viant facility and instruction to tool room employees for correct preparation to get the molds ready for validation as needed.
• Bench inspection and I.Q., O.Q. runs must have a report.
• Other related projects and tasks assigned.
• Site support & troubleshooting: Provide tooling troubleshooting and advanced mold diagnostics support to the manufacturing locations.
• Lead structured root cause analysis and drive corrective actions in collaboration with site teams.
• Support quoting and early customer engagements by providing tooling technical input (including mold flow/simulation-informed recommendations as applicable).
• Provide technical support for tooling topics during NPI—supporting DFM reviews, mold start-up, and validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) in partnership with Program and Site teams.
• RFC Submission: Concept mold configurations and requirements for quoting.
• Lead technical reviews with the customer and mold shop.
• Manage DFM including Drawing reviews with site Quality Engineers.
• Manage measurement fixture & EOAT design & fabrication.
• Manage mold shop's deliverables & expectations.
• Confirm receiving site requirements including press designation.
• Tool development, review of metrology data for OOS conditions and development into grooming plans.
• Prepare, track, and communicate project plans that specify project phases, tasks, task interdependencies and durations.
• Cook tasks and schedules.

Requirements

• Education: Certification from a trade school in mold making or Associates Technical degree minimum or completion of a 4,000 hour or 2-year mold making apprenticeship. Bachelor’s degree in engineering is a plus.
• Years of Experience: 10+ years of experience in a mold repair shop environment, tool maintenance, building of new molds and components, design, qualification, validation, etc.
• Experience in medical molding and/or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Job Knowledge: Experience specifying, reviewing and improving tool designs.
• SolidWorks CAD software abilities, Excel, PPT, Word and MS Project.
• Knowledge in FDA, QSR, and ISO 13485 medical device regulations and standards.
• Understanding statistics, Cp & Cpk studies for tool grooming.
• Understanding of Gantt charts for tool build schedules.
• Familiarity with the various engineering grade thermoplastic resins and Mold Flow analysis.
• Experience using mold simulation tools beyond general mold flow exposure (e.g., Moldflow, Moldex3D, Sigma Soft) to support tooling quotes and design decisions.

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Spanish proficiency (Required): Fluent professional Spanish (spoken and written)
• Ability to travel up to 75% to Viant sites (U.S., Costa Rica, Tijuana, and Vega Baja, PR)
• High self-sufficiency and ability to work effectively across multiple sites with frequent short notice travel.
• Demonstrated root cause analysis leadership for tooling related issues, including driving corrective actions with sites and external tool shops.
• Strong customer-facing technical communication skills (able to explain complex tooling topics clearly in early customer engagements and NPI phases).