Principal Tooling Engineer

Principal Tooling Engineer

GE Appliances is seeking a Principal Tooling Engineer to join our Metal Stamping Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME) team. In this highly visible role, you'll help define and uphold company-wide engineering standards for metal stamping tooling and equipment while leading complex tooling initiatives that directly impact product cost, quality, and factory performance. As a technical leader, you'll own tooling projects from concept through installation and qualification, supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) programs and product line improvements.

You'll partner closely with plant operations, manufacturing, and cross-functional engineering teams to ensure tooling solutions are safe, robust, cost-effective, and optimized for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). This role offers the opportunity to influence manufacturing strategy, mentor developing engineers, and drive continuous improvement across GE Appliances' stamping operations.

USA, Louisville, KY

• Lead tooling and equipment procurement projects from specification development through installation and qualification, ensuring alignment with GE Appliances standards
• Drive supplier selection, early supplier engagement, technical reviews, and factory layout development
• Ensure tooling and equipment are reliable, right-sized, cost-effective, and designed to maximize OEE
• Serve as a key liaison between project teams and plant operations, ensuring plant priorities and value-stream considerations are fully integrated
• Own critical project metrics including capital budgets, schedules, quality, reliability, and labor targets
• Perform trade-off analyses and guide data-driven decisions based on overall business impact
• Support NPI programs and product line initiatives to improve productivity and drive product cost reduction
• Lead and facilitate Production Preparation Process (3P) activities, ensuring tooling, equipment, and processes support the full value stream
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles including single-piece flow, standard work, material presentation, and ergonomic workstation design
• Ensure all tooling and equipment comply with industry and governmental Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) standards
• Apply Human Organizational Performance (HOP) principles to prioritize operator safety in all designs
• Collaborate with functional leaders to support Bill of Process (BoP), TPM, Lean Manufacturing, and ergonomic initiatives
• Mentor and develop junior engineers while contributing to AME knowledge sharing, training, and process improvement
• Partner with design teams to ensure Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DFMA) is incorporated into part and tooling design
• Support development of Manufacturing Control Plans (MCP) and Manufacturing Control Instructions (MCI)

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or related discipline OR equivalent hands-on experience in technical/manufacturing disciplines OR graduate of a certified tool & die apprenticeship program
• 7+ years of experience with tooling procurement as well as tool & die design concepts, die components and applications
• Proficient in 3D CAD (NX, Solid Works, Creo or equivalent)

Preferred:

• Experience managing tooling & equipment procurement projects:
  Including specification development, supplier selection, technical reviews, installation and qualification of tooling / equipment.
• Experience with specification, design, and installation of tool and die equipment in a large-scale manufacturing environment, die change systems, and associated processes.
• Prior NPI program experience

Working Environment:

• Working environment will be both an office and manufacturing environment.
• Hours & Weekends:
  Working off-shift and weekends will be required.

Travel

• 20% travel may be required during peak project times for domestic and/or international travel to supplier sites/ plants, etc.

Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.

This reflects our dedication to creating solutions that:
Empower colleagues by fostering an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute. Strengthen communities where we live and work. Reinforce a culture of belonging, purpose, and engagement. Reflect the diversity of the communities we serve through our workforce, products, and practices. By further embedding Zero Distance into our People and Culture framework, we will continue to build a deeply connected organization.

We are cultivating a culture of engagement, belonging, and connection, because while attracting new talent remains a priority,…