Associate Manager, Tooling and Process Engineering

Key Responsibilities

• Tooling Leadership & Mold Management
  Own the complete lifecycle of injection molds, including design reviews, sourcing, validation, launch, preventive maintenance, and refurbishment
  Establish and maintain mold PM standards, spare parts strategies, and tooling documentation
  Partner with tool shops and mold suppliers to ensure quality, timing, and cost targets are met
  Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for mold-related downtime, quality issues, or performance gaps
  Approve mold modifications and engineering changes to improve reliability, cycle time, and part quality
• Process Engineering & Optimization
  Develop, standardize, and approve robust injection molding processes (Scientific / Decoupled Molding preferred)
  Lead process development for new product launches including DOE, mold trials, and validation
  Drive continuous improvement initiatives for scrap reduction, cycle-time optimization, and process stability
  Ensure documented process standards and setup sheets are controlled and followed
  Serve as escalation point for complex molding and processing issues
• Team Leadership & Development
  Directly manage and mentor Tooling Technicians, Process Technicians, and Process Engineers
  Set performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create skill development plans
  Build bench strength through training, cross-functional exposure, and succession planning
  Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Production, and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues
  Support audits, customer visits, and technical reviews as the senior molding expert
  Provide technical input to capital projects, automation, and equipment selection
  Support ISO, regulatory, and customer-specific compliance activities
• Metrics & Accountability
  Improve mold uptime, scrap rates, and process capability (Cp/Cpk)
  Reduce startup, changeover, and launch inefficiencies
  Ensure new tools and processes meet performance and delivery expectations

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of injection molding experience including tooling and process engineering
• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• Expert knowledge of mold design, thermoplastics processing, and scientific molding principles
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills

• RJG Master Molder certification or equivalent
• Experience with automated or high-cavitation molding environments
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification
• ERP or MES experience related to tooling and process control

Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, heat, and moving equipment. Occasional travel to tool shops, suppliers, or customers. Off-shift support may be require