Senior Plastics Molding Engineer

Location:

Connecticut Position Summary

The Senior Molding Engineer, Strategic Sourcing provides technical leadership for strategic and sustaining engineering initiatives involving supplied components. Responsibilities include supporting product changes, continuous improvement efforts, tooling transfers, and supplier development activities. The role is primarily focused on plastic injection molding, tooling, materials, components, and assemblies, with exposure to additional commodity types as required.

This position partners closely with sourcing and operations leadership to reduce supply risk, improve supplier performance, achieve cost savings, and support long-term manufacturing strategies. The role applies expertise in design for manufacture, injection molding processes, tooling design, validation, and structured problem solving to projects of moderate to high complexity.

• Proactively identifies risks within the polymer and plastics supply base and implements solutions to mitigate supply disruption.
• Supports tooling and equipment transfers and new production start-ups at supplier locations.
• Leads mold and tooling design activities with suppliers, oversees Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and ensures manufacturing cell validation is completed per engineering best practices.
• Manages tooling and equipment repairs, refurbishments, and replacements for company-owned assets located at external suppliers.
• Contributes technical input to supplier-held tooling and equipment replacement strategies.
• Assists in the evaluation and selection of qualified suppliers for regulated materials, components, and assemblies.
• Identifies and supports cost-reduction initiatives in collaboration with sourcing, engineering, and supplier partners.
• Supports make-versus-buy analysis by providing technical input for in sourcing and outsourcing decisions.
• Provides Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFM/DFA) recommendations for externally supplied components.
• Assists suppliers with tooling and equipment capacity planning to support long-term demand and short-term changes.
• Maintains a high-quality global supplier base capable of producing SPI Class 101, 102, and 103 injection molds.
• Leads cross-functional teams to resolve complex supplier, quality, and engineering issues.
• Evaluates raw materials used in manufacturing and recommends qualified alternatives when appropriate.

• Strong practical knowledge of plastic mold design, mold construction, repair, and maintenance, including machining tolerances, tool steels, heat treatment, plating, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Working knowledge of Scientific Injection Molding principles and application.
• Experience with validation in regulated manufacturing environments, including IQ, OQ, and PQ activities.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Proficiency with relevant engineering tools and documentation, including CAD, GD&T, FMEA, molding simulation, and technical drawings.
• Ability to manage complex engineering projects and maintain schedules.
• Familiarity with product cost analysis and make-versus-buy decision support.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Proficient in common productivity and project management software.

• Bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in plastic injection molding manufacturing engineering and tooling.
• 3+ years of experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years in a supplier-facing engineering role such as supply chain, supplier development, or supplier quality.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience preferred.