Tooling Engineer

About the role

The Tooling Engineer troubleshoots tooling, dies, and fixtures to keep die cast production running smoothly and efficiently. This role reviews blueprints, identifies root causes of quality and production issues, and implements corrective and preventive actions. The position coordinates preventive maintenance and tooling repairs, manages tool life and repair budgets, and supports the toolroom team while driving safety, quality, and reliability across the manufacturing floor.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot tooling, dies, and fixtures to ensure continuous and efficient die cast production.
• Review and interpret complex blueprints, layouts, and technical instructions to identify and resolve quality or production issues.
• Determine, design, and implement preventive corrections and maintenance programs for tooling and dies.
• Coordinate and schedule preventive maintenance and tooling repairs with production, maintenance, and vendors.
• Evaluate repair requests to ensure they are appropriate and accurate, and perform repairs in a manner that supports production without sacrificing quality.
• Track tool life, manage repair budgets, and coordinate replacement tooling to maintain reliability and minimize downtime.
• Work from engineer or shift supervisor instructions, repair orders, and technical documentation to repair tools, dies, and fixtures.
• Analyze and evaluate tooling-related problems, define issues, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to remedy quality and production problems.
• Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor monitoring die cast operations to ensure they remain efficient, productive, and safe.
• Train and support toolroom employees and other staff in routine procedures and tooling-related best practices.
• Prepare and write routine reports, correspondence, log books, and documentation related to tooling, repairs, and preventive maintenance.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, coworkers, and vendors concerning tooling conditions, repairs, and maintenance plans.
• Use computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, PLEX ERP, and Paylocity to document work, communicate, and manage tooling-related data.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles and root cause analysis techniques to improve tooling performance, reduce downtime, and maintain high quality standards.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with production, maintenance, and external vendors to resolve tooling issues and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Skills

• Broad experience in manufacturing with hands-on experience working in tooling and die cast (required).
• High School Diploma or equivalency.
• Associate’s degree or 1–2 years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (preferred).
• Strong experience with die cast tooling, tooling repair, and tool and die maintenance in a production environment.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting complex blueprints, layouts, technical manuals, and technical procedures.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions in a manufacturing setting.
• Experience determining, designing, and implementing preventive maintenance and corrective actions for tooling and dies.
• Ability to evaluate repair requests, determine appropriate repairs, and execute them in a way that supports production and maintains quality.
• Competence in root cause analysis to address tooling-related quality and production issues.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts, including plane and solid geometry and trigonometry, and apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Strong verbal communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively before groups of employees or customers.
• Ability to train others in routine procedures related to tooling, dies, and fixtures.
• Ability to write routine reports, correspondence, and complete reports and log books accurately.
• Computer literacy, including the ability to read, write, and reply to email.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Teams.
• Experience using PLEX ERP for manufacturing or tooling-related activities.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, coworkers, and vendors regarding tooling and repairs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience serving as a go-to expert for tooling and dies in a die casting environment.
• Experience in lean manufacturing practices and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience coordinating with production, maintenance, and external vendors to resolve tooling issues.
• Familiarity with Paylocity for timekeeping or related administrative tasks.
• Strong organizational skills to manage tool life, repair budgets, and replacement planning.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and handle both abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to maintain clear, professional communication across multiple departments and levels of the organization.

Work Environment

This role is based in a manufacturing environment focused on die cast operations and tooling support. The position requires frequent standing and walking, as well as the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Reaching with hands and arms, and the ability to talk and hear clearly, are essential. The employee may occasionally be required to climb or balance and to bend, kneel, squat, or crawl to access equipment and tooling. The role occasionally requires lifting and/or moving up to 75 pounds. Vision requirements align with those necessary to maintain a valid driver’s license in the employee’s state of residence. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and may occasionally work in high or precarious places. There may be occasional exposure to fumes or airborne particles and extreme heat associated with die cast operations. The noise level is usually loud, and appropriate hearing protection may be required. Work schedules and any changes to working hours must be approved by the department manager, and schedules may change at the manager’s discretion. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $43.26 – $57.69/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 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)