Tooling Design Manager

About the role

We are seeking a Tooling Design Manager who will develop, establish, and implement both long‑range and short‑term strategies to achieve our goals and objectives. The role involves directing and coordinating activities related to the design and development of new packaging projects, designing tooling for production machines, and coordinating work with in‑house and outside vendors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies and operating plans to achieve goals and objectives.
• Direct and coordinate work activities for the design and development of new packaging projects.
• Design tooling to accommodate production machines, coordinating all work required for new tooling projects.
• Coordinate repair and maintenance of existing tooling.
• Clarify product specifications and design parameters with sales representatives or customer engineers.
• Utilize computer‑aided design software for design and prototype work, staying current with software advancements.
• Participate in the Product Design Team to analyze new product designs, manufacturing capabilities, and tooling needs.
• Maintain liaison with estimating, sales, purchasing, and production departments; conduct new product design meetings.
• Enter and print job shop orders for tooling using the MACOLA program; coordinate purchasing needs.
• Plan and evaluate tooling department staffing needs, schedule machine maintenance, and maintain shop supply inventories.
• Comply with and enforce all occupational and food safety policies and work rules.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in design, tooling, and CNC programming.
• Experience as a Tooling Supervisor or Designer, with knowledge of AutoCAD and CAD software.
• Experience in plastics manufacturing and food manufacturing.
• Ability to use micrometers, calipers, and other measuring tools.
• Proficiency in product design, tool making, and tool maintenance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to manage department operations through planning, organizing, and supervising work activities.
• Creative thinking with mechanical knowledge to create packaging concepts.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, blueprints, and customer specifications.
• Knowledge of machining practices, machine cutter selection, and operation of manual and CNC machines.
• Understanding of mathematical concepts such as basic math, geometry, and trigonometry.

Work Environment

The work environment involves using advanced computer‑aided design software and CNC programming tools. The role requires collaboration with various departments including estimating, sales, purchasing, and production. The work involves ensuring compliance with occupational and food safety policies and maintaining a well‑stocked and efficiently run tooling department.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $43.00 – $50.00 per hour. Individual compensation will depend on qualifications, skills, experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, vacation or sick leave)

Location

Contract‑to‑Hire position based out of Milwaukee, WI. Fully onsite.