Lead Prototype & Tooling Technician

Role Overview

We are seeking a dual-threat Lead Technician to spearhead our new Prototype and Tooling department. This high-visibility role makes you the expert at hand‑crafting our next generation of exhaust tube assemblies while serving as the technical guardian of our production tooling. You’ll work directly with premium CNC equipment and complex end‑forming technology.

• Precision Prototyping:
  Take new designs from print to physical part. Setup and execute prototype runs on our Crippa, Unison, and Alpine CNC benders.
• Tooling Maintenance & PM:
  Develop and execute a preventive maintenance program for all production tooling, including cleaning, identifying wear patterns, and performing precision adjustments to ensure "first-time-right" quality.
• Technical Troubleshooting:
  Support the production floor by diagnosing and resolving issues with end‑forming machines and bender tooling setups.
• Fabrication & Welding:
  Perform high-quality MIG and TIG welding for prototype assembly and tooling repair.
• Tooling Inventory:
  Manage the organization and storage of bender die sets and end‑forming collets/tools.

• CNC Bending Knowledge:
  Hands‑on experience with multi‑stack or electric benders (specifically Crippa, Unison, or Alpine software and hardware).
• Fabrication
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficiency in MIG and TIG welding on thin‑wall stainless or aluminized steel common in exhaust systems.
• End‑Forming Knowledge:
  Experience with segmented expanders, ram formers, or rotary end‑forming machinery.
• Maintenance Mindset:
  Strong mechanical aptitude for tool‑and‑die work, including the use of precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, etc.).

• The First Responder:
  You are the first to react when a part isn t forming correctly or a machine isn t running properly; you diagnose the root cause rather than just resetting alarms.
• The Tooling Guardian:
  You treat high‑end tooling like a surgical instrument—clean, organized, and protected.
• The Hybrid Expert:
  You enjoy shifting from a welding bench to a tube‑bending machine to a maintenance rack in a single day.

Education
:
High School Diploma or GED required. A technical degree or certification in Tool & Die, Precision Machining, or Industrial Maintenance is highly preferred.

Experience
:
Minimum five years in a metal fabrication environment, including machine setup and programming. Proven track record in MIG/TIG welding on thin‑wall stainless steel (0.049" – 0.065" wall thickness).

• Strength
  :
  Must be able to lift and maneuver tooling and die sets weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Agility
  :
  Ability to bend, stoop, and reach into CNC machine cabinets for maintenance and setup.
• Stamina
  :
  Must be comfortable standing for eight to ten hours per shift in a manufacturing environment.

Compliance:
This position requires access to information or items subject to ITAR. All applicants must be a "U.S. Person" as defined by ITAR (U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident/Green Card holder, or have asylum/refugee status).

Shift: Flexible First Shift (e.g., 5:30 AM – 2:30 PM or 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM), Monday through Friday. Overtime:
Occasional overtime may be required to meet prototype deadlines or address urgent production machine downtime. Flexibility:
As this is a new role, a degree of flexibility is needed as we establish workflow between R&D and Production.