Tooling Engineering Manager

Tooling Engineering Managerfitchburg, MA 01420

Tooling Engineering Manager

Micron Solutions is a multifaceted contract manufacturing organization specializing in thermoplastic injection molding, precision machining and finishing, and silver-plated medical sensors for disposable electrodes. We partner with companies of all sizes to deliver manufacturing and assembly solutions that support their success. Our 120,000-square-foot facility in Fitchburg, MA supports projects from concept through commercialization.

What We Offer:

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off

Work Environment:

Positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

The Tooling Engineering Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership, technical oversight, and operational management of all tooling engineering, mold construction, mold maintenance, and tool room activities. This position serves as the technical owner of all injection molding tooling assets throughout their lifecycle and leads the Tool Room and Mold Making team in supporting new product development, production operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and business growth.
The Tooling Engineering Manager partners cross-functionally with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Product Development to ensure tooling systems support safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives. The role is accountable for tooling performance, supplier management, capital planning, preventive maintenance programs, and successful launch of new molds and tooling systems.
Essential Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development

Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Tool Room personnel, Mold Makers, and tooling support staff.

Establish departmental goals, priorities, staffing plans, and performance expectations.

Manage employee performance through coaching, performance evaluations, development planning, and succession planning.

Participate in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives.

Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Ensure compliance with company policies, safety procedures, PPE requirements, and housekeeping standards.

Tooling Engineering & Asset Management

Own tooling strategy and lifecycle management for all tooling assets.

Develop and maintain tooling standards, specifications, maintenance procedures, and engineering documentation.

Establish and oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize tooling performance and asset life.

Monitor tooling performance metrics and implement corrective actions to improve uptime, reliability, quality, and productivity.

Lead root cause investigations of tooling-related quality and production issues.

Identify and implement tooling improvements that reduce cost, improve efficiency, and enhance product quality.

Maintain tooling inventory, asset tracking records, spare-part requirements, and lifecycle plans.

New Tool Development & Supplier Management

Lead tooling activities associated with new product introductions, capacity expansions, transfers, and product launches.

Participate in Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews, mold design reviews, and manufacturing feasibility assessments.

Provide tooling and manufacturing expertise during product quotations and capital planning activities.

Select, qualify, and manage mold manufacturers, tooling suppliers, and external service providers.

Manage tooling project timelines, costs, risk mitigation plans, engineering changes, and supplier performance.

Ensure timely qualification and successful production release of new tooling systems.

Tool Room & Mold Operations

Direct tool room operations including mold construction, repair, modification, maintenance, and troubleshooting activities.

Establish priorities and schedules to support production and project requirements.

Oversee fabrication, assembly, fitting, testing, qualification, and repair of molds and tooling.

Provide technical guidance regarding machining methods, tolerances, tooling design, and manufacturing processes.

Ensure accurate documentation of maintenance activities, tooling history, and work orders within ERP/MRP systems.

Support hands-on troubleshooting and technical problem resolution as required.

Production Support & Continuous Improvement

Provide tooling expertise to support injection molding operations and manufacturing performance.

Collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to resolve manufacturing issues.

Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), scrap reduction, cycle time optimization, yield improvement, and tooling reliability.

Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives within the tooling organization.

Standardize tooling and maintenance practices to improve consistency and operational efficiency.

Develop training programs, best practices, and…