Tooling Engineer

The Whittan Group; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Whittan Group is seeking an experienced Tooling Engineer to maintain and service production tooling including press tools, flying shears and die-cutting equipment at our Milton Keynes site. You will work closely with Engineering, Operations and Projects to maximise tooling reliability and minimise downtime.

This role is primarily day-shift, with occasional flexibility for alternate patterns. A strong background in tooling, hands-on mechanical skills and the ability to drive improvements are

Qualifications

• Experience with tooling including press tools and flying shears.
• Strong mechanical engineering and hand-fitting skills.
• Experience using workshop machinery (lathes, milling, grinders).
• Good process and manufacturing experience.
• Strong communication and teamwork.
• Experience liaising with suppliers and contractors.
• Punctual, reliable and flexible.
• BTEC engineering or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Manage tooling across site via planned preventive maintenance.
• Service, maintain and repair press tools, flying shears and die-cutting equipment.
• Respond to tooling breakdowns and perform maintenance when required.
• Order tooling spares and maintain stock levels.
• Track tooling locations, including off-site repairs, to keep schedules.
• Liaise with suppliers and contractors for maintenance and improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement in tooling performance and life.
• Support KPIs like MTBF and tool wear life.
• Maintain communication across Engineering, Operations and Projects; escalate as needed.
• Ensure all activities comply with Health & Safety and procedures.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Hand-fitting skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Liaising with suppliers

CMMS experience

Education

BTEC in engineering

HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Lathes

Milling machines

Surface grinders

CMMS software

Job description

Tooling Engineer

Location: Milton Keynes

The Whittan Group is the largest manufacturer of steel storage products in the United Kingdom. Operating through a number of market-leading brands, we design, manufacture and install storage solutions for commercial and industrial environments in the UK and Europe.

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Tooling Engineer to join our Engineering team in Milton Keynes. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled engineering professional to play a key role in maintaining and improving the tooling assets that support our manufacturing operations.

The Role

As a Tooling Engineer, you will be responsible for maintaining and servicing a wide range of production tooling, including press tools, flying shears and die-cutting equipment. You'll work closely with Engineering, Operations, Projects and external suppliers to maximise tooling reliability, improve performance and reduce downtime. This is primarily a day-shift role, although flexibility to support alternative shift patterns may occasionally be required to meet business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage tooling across the site through a planned preventative maintenance programme.
• Service, maintain and repair press tools, flying shears and die-cutting equipment.
• Respond to tooling breakdowns and carry out maintenance activities when required.
• Order tooling spares and maintain appropriate stock levels.
• Track tooling locations, including equipment sent off-site for repair, to ensure maintenance schedules remain on track.
• Liaise with suppliers and contractors to support tooling maintenance and improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the tooling department to improve performance and tooling life.
• Support improvements in key performance measures including MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and tool wear life.
• Maintain excellent communication across Engineering, Operations and Projects teams, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with Health & Safety requirements and company procedures.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience working with tooling, including press tools and flying shears.
• Strong mechanical engineering and hand-fitting skills.
• Experience using workshop machinery including lathes, milling machines and surface grinders.
• Good process and manufacturing experience.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Experience liaising with suppliers and external contractors.
• Confident IT user with experience of maintenance systems; CMMS experience would be advantageous.
• Punctual, reliable and flexible approach to work.
• BTEC qualification in an engineering discipline or equivalent.

Desirable

• HNC/HND qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience working on roll-forming machinery.
• Knowledge of planned maintenance systems and continuous improvement methodologies.

If you're an experienced Tooling Engineer looking to make a real impact within a leading manufacturing organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

REF-230 470