Senior Metal Tooling Engineer

Senior Metal Tooling Engineer

Hybrid role; expected to work 2 days per week from an HPE office.

Leads sheet metal tooling engineering activities supporting the development, validation, launch, and continuous improvement of stage tools, progressive dies, and soft tool metal fabrication for sheet metal components used in enterprise server, storage, networking, rail kits, and rack products.

Applies advanced subject matter knowledge to solve complex business issues and is regarded as a subject matter expert who provides technical leadership to functional and technical program teams. Serves as a technical authority for metal forming processes, tooling strategy, manufacturability, supplier qualification, supplier process capability, materials science, tool cost modeling, supplier negotiations, and sustainability to global program teams.

• Leads sheet metal tooling process strategy, design, and build activities for new product introductions and sustaining programs from concept to end of service.
• Evaluates and reviews manufacturability of complex sheet metal designs during concept, development, and production phases. Conducts Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with product design teams and manufacturing engineering partners to ensure tooling feasibility and process capability.
• Reviews and validates through all stages of design. Reviews and validates prototype tooling, stage tool, and progressive die process plans and die designs. Reviews and approves tooling qualification activities.
• Resolves tooling, dimensional, cosmetic, and process-related manufacturing issues through structured root cause analysis with corrective and preventative action plans.
• Drives continuous improvement:
  Improves yield, repeatability, process stability, and dimensional performance across global manufacturing operations. Identifies cost reduction opportunities through process optimization, tooling standardization, and manufacturing efficiency improvements. Coordinates tooling modifications, engineering changes, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leads negotiations for new tool and tool engineering change supplier quotes.
• Develops and maintains models, processes, and standards, including: tool cost model and method, sheet metal material specifications, sheet metal tooling standards.
• Provides technical leadership and mentorship related to metal forming processes, tool engineering, and production practices.
• Drives sustainability initiatives related to sheet metal manufacturing and metal fabricating, carbon footprint accounting, and carbon emissions reduction initiatives.
• Provides technical leadership during high-risk manufacturing escalations and cross-functional problem-solving situations.
• Reviews quality and first article inspection reports from suppliers. Supports new supplier qualification evaluation studies.
• Gathers market intelligence on material science and manufacturing technology advancements. Researches sheet metal cost and manufacturing labor rate trends for cost modeling and forecasting.

• Completion of the U.S. Dept. of Labor certified apprenticeship program in die engineering or diemaking OR
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Industrial Management.
• Minimum 10 years of hands‑on die engineering or shop floor experience, OR engineering experience directly working with die engineers.

• Advanced knowledge of sheet metal forming processes, tooling systems, and die mechanics.
• Ability to read 2D process plans and die drawings.
• Experience with prototyping, stage tools, and progressive dies.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal materials, including hot-dipped galvanized commercial steel, 300-series stainless steel, and high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steel.
• Experience working with global tooling suppliers and stamping manufacturers.
• Strong problem‑solving, crisis management, analytical, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of GD&T, dimensional capability analysis, tolerance stack‑up, and statistical process control.
• Background in tooling qualification,…