Tooling Engineer

Staff Bright is currently seeking a strong Tooling Engineer with a background in plastic injection molding to join a growing team near Auburn Hills, MI. Our client is expanding their operations and looking for someone who wants to make a real impact in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate brings experience in an automotive manufacturing setting
, is comfortable managing a large population of active tools, and approaches their work with a collaborative, hands-on, and growth-oriented mindset.

• Partner closely with product design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure new plastic components are designed for efficient manufacturing and assembly.
• Support new program quoting by evaluating tooling concepts, machine compatibility, and required auxiliary equipment.
• Review mold designs from external tool shops, providing technical feedback to ensure performance, reliability, and compliance with internal tooling standards.
• Use CAD tools to support tooling layouts, design changes, and detailed documentation.
• Perform mold flow analysis to refine part design, gate strategy, cooling efficiency, and overall mold performance prior to build.
• Own tooling programs end-to-end, from initial concept and supplier selection through launch, validation, and production support.
• Create and execute preventive maintenance strategies that improve tool uptime, extend tool life, and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Monitor tooling performance metrics such as short shots, repair frequency, maintenance trends, scrap, and cost per shot to drive predictive maintenance decisions.
• Lead tool repairs, refurbishments, and engineering changes, coordinating with internal teams and external vendors as needed.
• Serve as a technical escalation point on the production floor, diagnosing and resolving complex tooling and molding issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve tooling design, build quality, and long-term performance through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain visibility and control of tooling assets across both internal and external locations.
• Conduct customer-requested tool audits and support compliance requirements.
• Support mold qualification and validation activities, including DQ, FAT, IQ, OQ, and PQ.
• Track and report tooling KPIs such as first-pass yield, correction loops, and downtime.
• Build strong working relationships with tool shops and suppliers, managing performance and cost.
• Source and evaluate competitive quotes for new tools, repairs, and modifications, making informed supplier recommendations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date tooling documentation, including 3D models, assemblies, prints, and specifications.

To be considered for this role, candidates must have the following experience and skills:

• 3+ years of progressive experience supporting injection molding tooling within a manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated experience managing and supporting a large population of active tools.
• Background working in fast-paced, high-mix manufacturing environments, ideally automotive.
• Experience working directly with external tool shops and vendors, including oversight of repairs, modifications, and new builds.
• A collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge designs and advocate for manufacturability and long-term tool health.

The ideal candidate will also have any or all of the following preferred experience and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience supporting automotive OEM or Tier 1 customers.
• Familiarity with mold qualification and validation processes (DQ/FAT/IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Experience driving tooling-related cost reduction and performance improvement initiatives.

• Rapidly expanding operation with strong growth and advancement potential.
• Entrepreneurial, growth-focused environment with strong autonomy and high visibility.
• A company focused on hiring the right people — individuals with grit, ownership mentality, and a builder’s mindset.
• Competitive compensation and strong benefits.

Staff Bright connects exceptional professionals with fulfilling opportunities in Finance, IT, Engineering, and Sales and Marketing. By partnering with industry leading organizations, we help accelerate careers while delivering outstanding results for our clients. At Staff Bright, we go beyond traditional staffing by fostering close collaboration with our clients, recruiters, and candidates to ensure talent needs are met efficiently. Our commitment to building long-term relationships and driving success sets us apart as a trusted partner in the staffing industry.