Progressive Die Toolmaker — Metal Stamping

Progressive Die Toolmaker — Metal Stamping

Location:

Wood Dale, IL

Reports to:

Tool Room Manager Date: 10/12/22A day in this role

It starts with a print on your bench in Wood Dale. You study the engineering drawings, plan your sequence, and head to the grinders, mills, lathes, and drills. By mid-morning, you’re building and repairing dies and fixtures for continuous-run punch presses, shaping close-tolerance parts, and offering smart design suggestions when a blueprint can be improved. A die arrives from production—there’s damage.

You assess root cause, disassemble with hand and power tools, clean thoroughly, and implement a fix that reduces the chance of repeat failures.

After lunch, you set up multiple machines to sharpen tooling, fabricate prototypes, and perform precision measurements with micrometers, calipers, and gauges to ensure every specification is met. A crane and die lifter help you move heavy tooling safely; you follow lockout and PPE rules, keep your area clean, and document the work performed. When a line calls for help, you troubleshoot the die and related mechanical tooling, lubricate where needed, check oil, grease fittings, wipe spills, and clear scrap to keep production flowing.

Before the day ends, you update repair and quality records, recommend improvements, coach a teammate on a setup, review spare component inventory, and complete all paperwork accurately. You collaborate across the department, support others as needed, and take part in training to sharpen your craft. Other duties arise—and you handle them with care and urgency.

What you’ll handle

Build, repair, and maintain tools, dies, and fixtures for continuous run punch presses and related metal fabrication equipment

Interpret engineering drawings/blueprints; make design recommendations when appropriate

Receive, inspect, disassemble, clean, and perform routine to complex die repairs; implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence

Plan operations, set up, and run grinders, drills, mills, lathes, and hand tools for machining and sharpening

Read die specifications; verify tolerances with micrometers, calipers, and fixed/adjustable gauges

Safely move tooling with die lifters, lift trucks, and overhead/jib cranes using proper lifting techniques

Conduct routine operator maintenance; troubleshoot production lines, dies, and mechanical tooling; lubricate and maintain housekeeping

Follow safety standards and PPE requirements; maintain a neat, organized workspace; participate in safety initiatives

Maintain and review repair, engineering change, and quality records; escalate or correct issues to sustain quality and output

Train/instruct others in machining, die maintenance, and repair; recommend process and design improvements

Manage inventory for spare die components and required supplies

Complete all required documentation accurately and on time; adhere to company policies including safety and attendance

Engage in continuous improvement of personal skills, departmental processes, and product quality; collaborate to resolve daily issues

Perform other duties as assigned to meet company needs

Your background

Proficient with assigned machinery and equipment, including CNC programs and control panels

Fluent in reading Blueprints, Piece Prints, and GD&TAdvanced math for feeds, speeds, distances, print conversion, and geometry

Skilled with measurement tools: calipers, micrometers, thread gauges, and more Knowledge of machining characteristics across various raw materials

Clear written and verbal communication; able to follow and provide instructions

Physical and work environment

Sedentary position

Ability to travel via public and private transportation
20/20 vision required, with or without correction

Hands in use throughout 100% of the workday

Standing or walking up to 25% of the workday

Frequent twisting, bending, and leaning

Office environment with occasional exposure to loud noise, dust, solvents, coolants, and oils

Proficiencies

Troubleshooting Skills Metal Stamping & Forming (Progressive Die)
Tool/Die/Mold Repair Skills Tool/Die/Mold Setup Experience Blueprint Reading

ClassificationFLSANon-Exempt