Technician - Tooling Room

About the Role

The Tooling Room Technician supports VPET USA's PET injection molding and blow molding operations by maintaining, repairing, troubleshooting, and improving molds and production tooling. This position performs preventative and corrective maintenance, precision machining, mold change support, and tooling improvements to minimize downtime while ensuring product quality, safety, and operational efficiency. The position works closely with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality to support continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Comply with all quality, safety, GMP, and company policies.
• Perform preventative maintenance on molds and tooling.
• Disassemble, inspect, clean, polish, repair, and rebuild molds.
• Repair cores, cavities, neck rings, blow pins, stretch rods, shutoffs, and wear components.
• Diagnose tooling-related defects including flash, short shots, leaks, dimensional variation, and cosmetic defects.
• Assist with mold installation, removal, setup, alignment, and changeovers.
• Operate manual tool room equipment including mills, lathes, grinders, and drill presses.
• Modify and fabricate tooling components as required.
• Inspect tooling using calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, and gauges.
• Maintain tooling PM records and repair documentation.
• Maintain tooling inventory and spare parts.
• Support production during emergency repairs.
• Partner with Engineering on tooling improvements and new mold trials.
• Support OEE, downtime reduction, and scrap reduction initiatives.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Technical training in Tool & Die, Mold Making, Machining, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years in plastics manufacturing, mold shop, or tooling environment.
• Injection molding and blow molding experience preferred.
• CNC machining and TIG/MIG/laser welding experience preferred.

Skills

• Blueprint reading and shop math.
• Knowledge of mold mechanics, hot runner systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and cooling circuits.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Overtime/weekends as required.
• Comply with OSHA and Lockout/Tagout requirements.
• Forklift certification within 60 days.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to push, pull, twist, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, and crawl.
• Must be able to perform repetitive motions such as reaching and grasping.
• Work environment is in a warehouse and temperatures inside vary between hot or cold based on the outside conditions.

Benefits

• Medical (HMO), dental, and vision insurance premium.
• 401k plan, Employer contributes 3%, up to 4%.
• Vacation and sick pay.
• Eight (8) paid holidays per year.
• Basic Life Insurance Paid (25K policy).