Tooling Engineer

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long‑term Relationships.
We connect high‑performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

We’re partnering with a growing, high‑automation manufacturing organization producing high‑volume consumer packaging products. With major new programs launching, new resin technologies being tested, and significant capital investment underway, the tooling function is expanding—creating a newly formed Tooling & Mold Engineer role built for impact.

This is the kind of environment where you’re never far from the action: over 100 injection molding machines, complex high‑cavitation tooling, and a team that takes pride in solving problems the right way. The right person thrives as the bridge between production and the tool room—quick to diagnose issues, steady under pressure, and motivated by improving reliability and uptime.

• Lead mold repairs, rebuilds, and corrective actions to restore and optimize tool performance.
• Support new mold builds through component evaluation, functional reviews, and troubleshooting during bring‑up.
• Diagnose tooling failures and clearly guide technicians through repair steps and best practices.
• Serve as the go‑to liaison between production and the tool room—translating floor realities into tooling decisions.
• Refresh surfaces, evaluate wear, and maintain strip molds, dovetail molds, specialty cores, and undercut tooling.
• Use Solid Works to interpret prints and support design intent.
• Partner with process engineering to determine whether issues are tooling‑related or parameter‑driven.
• Drive long‑term improvements in mold reliability, uptime, and overall tooling strategy.

You’re the person people call when the mold is down and time matters. You can troubleshoot fast, explain what’s happening clearly, and lead a team through the fix without creating chaos. You enjoy mentoring, you like being hands‑on, and you take pride in leaving tools better than you found them.

• Strong background in injection mold repair, function, and performance optimization.
• Hands‑on experience rebuilding tools and diagnosing tooling failures.
• Familiarity with cold runner, hot runner, manifolds, and valve gate systems.
• Solid Works proficiency for reviewing prints and details.
• Working understanding of mold flow, tooling design, and process/tooling interactions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Comfortable in fast‑paced, high‑volume environments with automation and continuous improvement.

This role was created because the business is growing—and tooling reliability is central to hitting production goals. You’ll help stabilize and strengthen how tools perform day‑to‑day while also shaping a longer‑term approach to uptime, preventive strategy, and problem‑solving standards. With direct mentorship from a long‑tenured tooling leader and high visibility across engineering and production, this is a chance to make an immediate difference and build something lasting.

• Newly created role within the tooling organization.
• Works closely with: production leadership, process engineering, and a highly skilled tool room team.
• Receives mentorship from a senior tooling leader with 30+ years in the organization.