Tooling Engineer

Tooling Engineer

Job Location:

Pine Hall, NC

Wieland is a global leader in copper and copper alloy manufacturing. We have a large product and service portfolio including power, automotive, ammunition, coinage, construction materials, refrigeration, electronics and many other industries. The Tooling Engineer will be responsible for the development, optimisation, and lifecycle management of tooling used in the Tech Tube fining process and copper shell drawing operations. This role focuses on troubleshooting tooling issues, developing tooling setups, improving tooling performance, and establishing structured tooling management systems to support operational efficiency and cost optimisation.

On the Tech Tube side, the engineer supports the setup development and troubleshooting of fining operations used to manufacture high‑performance heat transfer tubes. On the Drawing process side, the engineer leads tooling management initiatives supporting the transformation of cast copper shells into finished products including straight tubes for HVAC and plumbing, Level Wound Coils (LWC), inner‑grooved coils, and bunch coils.

Tech Tube Tooling Development & Troubleshooting:

• Support setup development and optimisation for internal and external finning operations.
• Troubleshoot tooling and process issues affecting fin quality, tube integrity, and production efficiency.
• Collaborate with production teams to improve fining stability and repeatability.
• Analyse process parameters and tooling conditions to improve fin geometry consistency and product performance.
• Support new product development initiatives related to enhanced heat transfer tube designs.

Drawing Tooling Management & Optimization:

• Support tooling development for copper shell drawing operations producing straight tubes, LWC, inner‑grooved coils, and bunch coils.
• Identify tooling improvements that enhance drawing stability, surface quality, and dimensional consistency.
• Develop and maintain a structured tooling inventory system including real‑time tooling inventory status (in stock vs deployed), tool identification using unique tracking methods (barcode or QR code if feasible), and tracking of tooling deployed.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators for tooling performance including tool life, tooling cost, tool refurbishment frequency, and emergency tooling requests.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Optimization:

• Identify opportunities to reduce tooling costs while maintaining performance and reliability.
• Optimise tooling inventory levels to avoid over‑stock or shortages.
• Support capital investment planning for tooling upgrades.
• Reduce emergency tooling purchases and expedite costs through improved planning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to tooling design and lifecycle management.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or related technical field. (required)
• 1‑3 years of experience in manufacturing. (required)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook). (required)
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis capabilities. (required)
• Ability to travel for initial training. (required)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across teams and departments. (required)
• Strong organisational skills with high attention to detail. (required)
• Experience with copper processing, tube manufacturing, or metal forming operations. (preferred)
• Experience implementing tooling tracking or inventory management systems. (preferred)
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred).
• Experience with data analysis and KPI development for manufacturing processes. (preferred)
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience. (preferred)

Wieland is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.