Senior Tooling Engineer, Production

Senior Tooling Engineer – Seats Production

• Design jigs, fixtures, and tools for manufacturing processes, ensuring compliance with product specifications, tolerances, and quality standards; collaborate with product and process engineers on Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Source tooling from suppliers and manage RFQs, evaluate and select vendors based on cost, quality, and lead time, overseeing tool fabrication and delivery to meet program timelines.
• Conduct tool trials and validate performance against design requirements, perform dimensional checks, and approve tooling for production after successful validation.
• Develop preventive maintenance plans for tools and dies; troubleshoot tooling issues during production and implement corrective actions, ensuring tool life management and replacement planning.
• Analyze tooling costs and identify cost reduction opportunities, optimize tool design for cycle time reduction and durability, and support continuous improvement projects related to tooling.
• Participate in program launch meetings, ensuring tooling readiness; coordinate tooling changes for engineering updates and provide technical support during pilot builds and ramp‑up.

• Education and Experience:
  
  12+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing and a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field; alternatively 8 years with a Master’s degree or 5 years with a PhD/equivalent experience.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, ERP systems, automotive OEMs, and Just‑In‑Time (JIT) manufacturing.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to manage cross‑functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of trim line processes and automotive interior components.
• Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and organizational skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office and production planning software.

Manufacturing plant environment; exposure to moving machinery and industrial noise; may require shift work (days, nights, weekends).

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure, life experiences, or any other reason. Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at slate-o.