Production Tooling Manager

Description

Summary of Position:

The Production Tooling Manager is responsible for leading the toolroom team to ensure ongoing reliability and performance of existing molds that support high-volume, high-precision production. This role requires deep expertise in injection mold maintenance, tool modifications, and team leadership in a fast-paced production environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):

• Supervise a team of toolmakers and mold maintenance technicians ensuring consistent execution of preventive maintenance, mold repairs, and engineering changes.
• Plan, prioritize and coordinate tooling tasks to minimize unplanned downtime and support continuous, high-efficiency production.
• Diagnose and resolve tooling issues affecting part quality, cycle time, and mechanical performance through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Plan and manage mold refurbishments, corrective actions, and component replacements.
• Maintain thorough documentation of all tooling work, including PMs, mold changes, and performance history.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Production teams to address tooling-related challenges and support new product introductions or revisions.
• Manage inventory of mold components and coordinate with Purchasing for tooling materials.
• Identify and implement tooling and process improvements that reduce cost, extend tool life, and improve product quality.
• Drive process improvements to extend mold life, reduce costs, and enhance part quality.
• Ensure adherence to 5S, lean manufacturing practices, and safety standards in the toolroom. 

Requirements

Education and Skill Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or manufacturing engineering. 
• 5+ years of experience in injection mold maintenance or toolroom operations.
• 2+ years in a leadership or supervisory role in a manufacturing or tooling environment.
• Strong understanding of mold design, injection tooling components, and root cause troubleshooting.
• Skilled in tool repair, benching, spotting, polishing, and assembly.
• Proficiency in reading engineering drawings, mold blueprints, and CAD files.
• Familiarity with hydraulic/pneumatic systems, cooling channels, and mold safety mechanisms.
• Excellent communication, organization, and team leadership skills.

Preferred:

• Experience with high-cavitation molds, tight-tolerance components, or optical connector tooling.
• Working knowledge of scientific molding principles and process validation.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit to operate a computer. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The noise level in the work environment is normal.