Director, Advanced Tooling, Advanced Manufacturing & Automation

1. Department Standards & Governance

Establish and own the enterprise-wide standards framework for the Advanced Tooling and Automation department, including equipment standards, design standards, build standards, and maintenance standards. Develop, document, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all core department functions, including:
Tooling quote scope-of-work development Tooling lineup planning and structuring Cost breakdown methodology and templates Vendor selection and evaluation criteria Tooling and equipment acceptance/runoff criteria Create and maintain a performance governance model — defining how standards are audited, how compliance is measured, and how deviations are escalated and corrected. Serve as the final authority on tooling and equipment standards across all sites, ensuring consistency, cost control, and quality.

Define the standard format and process for tooling quote scope of work, ensuring quotes are complete, comparable across suppliers, and aligned to program requirements. Establish standardized tooling lineup structures (e.g., mold sets, fixtures, secondary equipment, automation cells) for consistent program planning. Develop standardized cost breakdown structures (material, labor, engineering, controls, freight, contingency, etc.) to improve quote accuracy, cost transparency, and negotiation leverage.

Own the RFQ process for tooling and capital equipment, ensuring apples-to-apples supplier comparisons.

Lead design, development, and validation of advanced tooling for composite molds, secondary equipment, and automation systems. Oversee tooling readiness for new program launches, ensuring durability, repeatability, and on-time delivery. Drive innovation into the tooling portfolio — evaluating new materials, processes, and design methodologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, simulation-driven design, modular/reconfigurable tooling) to improve cost, speed, and performance.

Develop and implement advanced manufacturing technologies, including automation, robotics, predictive maintenance, and Industry 4.0 tools. Lead automation development end-to-end: concept, business case, design, integration, validation, and scale-up to full production. Validate new processes and automated systems through pilot lines, ensuring scalability and reliability prior to full deployment. Identify and prioritize automation opportunities based on labor efficiency, ergonomics, throughput, and ROI.

Establish enterprise-wide controls standards (PLC platforms, HMI design, safety architecture, network/communication protocols, naming conventions, documentation standards) to ensure consistency, maintainability, and reduced spare-parts complexity across sites. Partner with controls engineering and IT/OT teams to ensure new automation and tooling projects comply with controls standards from concept through commissioning. Drive standardization of controls documentation, change management, and cybersecurity practices across all automated systems.

Partner with suppliers to deliver best-in-class tooling and automation solutions within budget and timing requirements. Develop and administer a formal vendor evaluation program — scoring suppliers on quality, cost, delivery, engineering capability, and responsiveness — to guide sourcing decisions and build a preferred supplier base. Lead supplier performance reviews and drive corrective action when standards are not met.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, scrap reduction, labor efficiency, and ergonomics. Define and deploy enterprise standards for manufacturing layouts, material flow, ergonomics, and process optimization. Benchmark industry trends and emerging technologies to keep the enterprise at the forefront of composite manufacturing and automation.

Work closely with Product Development, Facilities, and Asset Management to align tooling and equipment strategy…