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

Required Qualifications

* 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

Preferred Qualifications

* 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

Physical &

Work Environment Requirements

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