Tooling Engineer II

About the role

Pelican Products, Inc. is seeking a Tooling Engineer II to join our team in Torrance, CA. This role leads tooling development projects and provides technical expertise to support new product launches, manufacturing excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize injection molds and tooling systems for new and existing products.
• Review product designs and engineering specifications to ensure manufacturability and alignment with tooling capabilities.
• Lead tooling projects from concept through production launch, including timelines, budgets, technical deliverables, and supplier coordination.
• Partner with Product Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to support successful product launches.
• Conduct tooling design reviews and provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) recommendations.
• Evaluate tooling performance and identify opportunities to improve quality, reliability, cycle times, and overall productivity.
• Utilize mold flow analysis, engineering simulations, and structured problem-solving techniques to resolve tooling and manufacturing challenges.
• Support prototype development, validation activities, and production qualification efforts.
• Investigate root causes of tooling issues and implement corrective actions to improve long-term performance.
• Establish tooling standards, best practices, and preventative maintenance strategies.
• Support supplier selection, tooling procurement, and tool shop performance management activities.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to technicians, manufacturing personnel, suppliers, and engineering team members.
• Develop and maintain tooling documentation, engineering records, specifications, and maintenance plans.
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and cost reduction.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, engineering standards, quality requirements, and safety guidelines.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 4-6 years of experience in tooling engineering, mold design, tooling development, or injection molding manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of injection molding processes, mold construction, tooling systems, and plastic material behavior.
• Experience designing and troubleshooting injection molds in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with CAD software including SolidWorks, AutoCAD, NX, or similar platforms.
• Experience using mold flow analysis software to optimize tooling and process performance.
• Working knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM), GD&T, and engineering change management processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Experience working with suppliers, mold builders, tool shops, and manufacturing partners preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting new product introductions and production launches.
• Experience with scientific molding principles and process validation.
• Experience in high-volume injection molding manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting products within regulated industries such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, or industrial manufacturing.