Job Description

Tooling Engineer – HPDC

Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite

Shift: Day Shift

Relocation: Relocation assistance available

After-Hours: Occasional after-hours and weekend production support

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Tooling Engineer to support the development, design, build, maintenance, and continuous improvement of High-Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) tooling in a high-volume manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on HPDC tooling and die design experience and be comfortable working directly with production teams to troubleshoot dies, resolve manufacturing issues, improve uptime, and optimize tooling performance.

This is a hands-on production-support position, not an office-based design or project management role. The Tooling Engineer will work closely with Engineering, Tooling, Maintenance, Quality, and Production teams to identify root causes and implement practical tooling solutions.

Candidates with strong high-pressure plastic injection molding experience may also be considered if they possess a strong overall tooling and manufacturing engineering background. Stamping-only experience is not considered a match.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, design, build, maintenance, and optimization of HPDC tooling and dies.
• Provide hands-on technical support to production and troubleshoot die-related issues, downtime, defects, and tooling failures.
• Monitor and analyze tooling downtime, dimensional data, production performance, and recurring tooling issues to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement tooling solutions that improve uptime, repeatability, die life, quality, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
• Analyze and improve metal filling, thermal balance, venting, cooling, and other die performance characteristics.
• Create, modify, and maintain tooling CAD models, engineering drawings, prints, revisions, and spare-part documentation.
• Perform and support die design reviews and ensure tooling designs meet manufacturing and production requirements.
• Coordinate tooling quoting, procurement, costs, tool builds, cavity replacements, die components, and spare parts.
• Work with toolmakers, suppliers, production personnel, maintenance, quality, and other engineering teams to resolve complex tooling problems.
• Support PPAP, manufacturing acceptance, tooling validation, and production launch activities.
• Assist with tooling schedules, budgets, timelines, and project deliverables.
• Use CAD and tooling data to develop practical solutions to manufacturing and production challenges.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction, productivity, quality, and tooling reliability.
• Provide technical support during after-hours and weekend production issues when required.
• Maintain accurate documentation and revision control for all tooling-related engineering information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Tooling, Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field required.
• 3–5+ years of relevant tooling/manufacturing engineering experience preferred.
• Hands-on High-Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) tooling experience is strongly preferred/required.
• Proven experience with die design and tooling development.
• Strong proficiency with CAD software.
• Experience troubleshooting tooling directly in a production/manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of die construction, components, maintenance, and tooling performance.
• Ability to analyze production and dimensional data and translate findings into tooling improvements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Journeyman Toolmaker background or equivalent hands-on tooling experience.
• Experience with flow simulation software.
• Experience with HPDC process optimization, including filling, venting, cooling, and thermal balance.
• Experience with tooling suppliers, die builds, cavity replacement, and component procurement.
• Experience supporting PPAP and production launch activities.
• Experience with continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, and manufacturing problem-solving.
• High-pressure plastic injection molding experience may be considered when combined with strong tooling and manufacturing engineering experience.