Tool and Die Engineer

The Tool and Die Engineer provides technical ownership for the design development improvement and lifecycle support of production tooling used in a heavy manufacturing environment. This engineer translates product and process requirements into safe robust maintainable tooling solutions including dies fixtures gauges jigs and related mechanical systems. The role combines engineering analysis detailed drawing development hands-on troubleshooting and close partnership with the tool room and plant teams to improve safety quality delivery and cost performance.

Design develop and improve stamping dies forming tools weld fixtures assembly fixtures gauges jigs and related production tooling.

Create and maintain complete mechanical drawings layouts specifications bills of material tolerances and revision-controlled engineering records.

Apply dimensional tolerancing fit material selection heat treatment wear strength manufacturability and maintainability principles to tooling designs.

Perform engineering calculations and design reviews to confirm that tooling meets application equipment safety quality and production requirements.

Convert product drawings models and process needs into practical tooling concepts that can be fabricated assembled commissioned and maintained.

Provide hands-on engineering support for tooling failures dimensional variation excessive wear setup concerns scrap downtime and chronic production constraints.

Lead structured root-cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions for recurring tooling and process issues.

Improve tool life changeover performance process repeatability ergonomics part quality and equipment uptime through engineered modifications.

Partner with operators toolmakers maintenance technicians manufacturing engineers and quality personnel to validate solutions at the point of use.

Use shop-floor observations and operating data to prioritize tooling risks and improvement opportunities.

Develop technical requirements and design concepts for new or replacement tooling that supports product launches capacity changes and process improvements.

Support make-versus-buy evaluations supplier technical reviews quotations and tooling procurement decisions.

Coordinate design reviews fabrication follow-up tryouts runoffs capability studies and production acceptance.

Confirm that new tooling meets approved drawings safety requirements quality standards cycle-time expectations and maintenance needs before release.

Document open issues corrective actions and final acceptance criteria through launch and handoff.

Own tooling drawings and technical documentation from concept through release revision and obsolescence.

Ensure drawing packages accurately define dimensions tolerances materials commercial components assembly relationships and critical characteristics.

Control tooling changes through the established engineering change process and verify updates before production release.

Maintain alignment among product drawings tooling designs inspection methods setup documentation and actual shop-floor conditions.

Protect reusable design knowledge by standardizing drawing practices preferred components design rules and lessons learned.

Develop preventive-maintenance requirements wear limits inspection points spare-parts recommendations and rebuild criteria for critical tooling.

Partner with the tool room and maintenance team to plan repairs rebuilds and reliability improvements based on production risk and tooling condition.

Establish and sustain technical standards for tooling safety design fabrication storage setup maintenance and documentation.

Support tooling audits and risk reviews and close identified gaps with documented corrective action.

Train toolmakers technicians operators and engineers on new tooling design intent critical features setup requirements and care expectations.

Lead or support tooling projects that reduce scrap downtime setup time outside repair cost and operational risk.

Apply Lean methods structured problem-solving and data analysis to eliminate chronic loss and improve process capability.

Develop project scope timing cost estimates risk assessments and implementation plans for assigned tooling initiatives.

Communicate project status technical risks decisions and resource needs clearly to stakeholders.

Complete projects with disciplined follow-through validated results and accurate closeout documentation.

Required

Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Industrial Engineering with a strong mechanical focus or a closely related engineering discipline.

Minimum of 3 years of relevant engineering experience in tooling tool and die mechanical design manufacturing engineering or a closely related heavy manufacturing role.

Demonstrated experience reading interpreting creating and revising detailed mechanical drawings and three-dimensional models.

Experience supporting heavy manufacturing processes and production equipment such as metal forming stamping fabrication welding machining or large-scale assembly.

Working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing tolerance stack-up mechanics materials and design for manufacturability.

Proficiency with three-dimensional CAD and two-dimensional drafting software; able to develop production-ready drawing packages.

Experience troubleshooting tooling or mechanical systems in a production environment and implementing sustainable corrective actions.

Ability to work safely and effectively in office shop-floor tool-room and equipment installation environments.

Strong written verbal organizational and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Experience designing or supporting progressive transfer blanking piercing forming or similar production dies.

Experience with weld fixtures assembly fixtures inspection gauges hydraulic or pneumatic components and mechanical automation.

Knowledge of tool steels heat treatment coatings wear surfaces purchased die components machining methods and tool-room practices.

Experience with finite element analysis forming simulation tolerance-analysis software or product lifecycle management systems.

Familiarity with PFMEA control plans capability studies MSA Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methods.

Experience managing tooling suppliers fabrication partners budgets schedules and acceptance runoffs.

Prioritizes safety and designs risk out of tooling setup operation maintenance and repair activities.

Engages directly at the Gemba and builds credibility through practical technically sound support.

Uses structured thinking engineering discipline and data to solve problems and make decisions.

Collaborates across functions communicates early and aligns stakeholders before implementing changes.

Owns issues through closure and balances immediate production needs with long-term tooling reliability.

Protects drawing accuracy revision control and technical standards with consistent attention to detail.

Shares knowledge and helps strengthen the technical capability of the tool room and manufacturing organization.

This role directly influences employee safety tooling reliability product quality equipment uptime launch readiness and manufacturing cost. Success is reflected in durable and maintainable tooling accurate engineering documentation stable production processes faster issue resolution reduced tooling-related loss and effective execution of new and improved tooling solutions.

The position routinely works in an active heavy manufacturing environment and may require extended standing walking bending climbing stairs and accessing tooling or equipment for inspection and troubleshooting. The employee must follow all site safety rules and use required personal protective equipment. Occasional work outside normal business hours may be needed to support production installations tryouts or urgent tooling issues.

This job description summarizes the primary responsibilities and qualifications of the position. It does not list every duty. Business needs may require the assignment of other responsibilities consistent with the role.