Injection Molding Process & Tooling Specialist Lead

The plastics Injection Molding Process & Tooling Specialist Lead provides advanced technical expertise in injection molding processes and tooling to support the manufacture of high-precision medical devices. This role is responsible for sustaining engineering support and driving continuous improvement initiatives to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives within a regulated manufacturing environment.

This role partners closely with New Product Introduction (NPI), Quality, and Operations teams, serving as a subject matter expert in plastic part design support, mold design, build oversight, validation, and process optimization. The Specialist ensures tooling reliability through effective maintenance strategies, spare parts management, and continuous process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Molding & Tooling Execution

• Apply advanced technical expertise to develop, optimize, and sustain injection molding processes for high-precision components

• Lead tooling activities including mold design input, modification, validation, and maintenance

• Evaluate and implement new tooling, equipment, and technologies to improve capability and cost performance

Process Development & Sustaining

• Troubleshoot complex molding and tooling issues to minimize downtime and improve reliability

• Develop and implement molding process and procedures improvements (ECOs, parameters, work instructions, validation documentation)

• Serve as a technical resource to production teams and high-performance work teams

NPI & Validation

• Support new product introductions through tooling strategy, process development, and validation planning

• Execute IQ/OQ/PQ activities, tooling qualifications, and vendor validations

• Partner cross-functionally to transfer products into stable, full-scale production

Continuous Improvement & Technical Leadership

• Lead cost reduction, yield improvement, and process optimization initiatives

• Mentor technicians and junior engineers; act as site-level SME for tooling and molding systems

• Lead technical projects, ensuring delivery against scope, timeline, and performance goals

Tooling Reliability & Systems

• Own mold preventive maintenance and repair programs

• Establish and manage mold spare parts strategies

• Drive improvements in tooling uptime, lifecycle, and reliability

Minimum Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of progressive experience in plastics injection molding and tooling. Ideal candidates will have experience in tooling design, build, and validation, injection molding process optimization, and advanced troubleshooting in a production environment.

• Associate degree or  technical certification is preferred; however candidates with 5-10 years of equivalent hands-on experience will also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated manufacturing (FDA / ISO environments)

• Working knowledge of process validation and statistical tools

• Experience supporting NPI and cross-functional product transfers

• CAD and engineering drawing interpretation capability

 This position is not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship

Disclosure as required by applicable law, the annual salary range for this position is $110,370 - $170,700. The actual compensation may vary based on geographic location, work experience, education and skill level. The salary range is CONMED’s good faith belief at the time of this posting. 

This job posting is anticipated to close on July 6, 2026. We may, however, extend this time period, in which case the posting will remain available on careers.conmed.com.  Please submit your application as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis as we receive them.

Benefits:

CONMED offers a wide array of benefits to fit your unique needs. Visit our Benefits Page for more information.

• Competitive compensation
• Excellent healthcare including medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage
• Short & long term disability plus life insurance -- cost paid fully by CONMED
• Retirement Savings Plan (401K) -- CONMED matches your contributions dollar for dollar, with the potential for up to 7% per pay period
• Employee Stock Purchase P