Tool Design Engineer

Sankar NP Japan Private Limited; Chennai District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Sankar NP Japan Private Limited seeks a Tool Design Engineer to design, develop, and improve press tools for our stamping line from feasibility to production-ready tooling.

You will design various dies, review drawings, prepare models and BOMs, select materials, and support trials. 5–10 years of tool design experience in automotive manufacturing is preferred.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in press tool design.
• Experience in automotive component manufacturing is preferred.
• Diploma or BE/BTech in mechanical/production/tool & die; Post-diploma in Tool Design preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design progressive, compound, blanking, piercing, and forming dies for precision sheet metal components.
• Review drawings for tooling feasibility; flag risks early.
• Prepare 2D/3D tool models, drawings, and BOMs.
• Select die materials and clearances; set tool life parameters.
• Support die trials, debugging, and approvals; implement corrections.
• Contribute to DFMEA, Control Plan inputs, and PPAP documents.
• Maintain tool design database and revision history.

Skills

Press tool design

3D CAD

GD&T

Engineering drawings

Die manufacturing

IATF 16949/APQP/PPAP/DFMEA

Education

Diploma or BE/BTech (Mechanical)

Post-Diploma in Tool Design

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

SNPJ is a Tier-1 OEM supplier of precision components to the 2W/3W automotive industry. We are hiring a Tool Design Engineer to design, develop, and improve press tools for our stamping line, from the first feasibility check to a tool that runs reliably in production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design progressive, compound, blanking, piercing, and forming dies for precision sheet metal components, including strip layouts and stage drawings
• Review customer part drawings for tooling feasibility; flag tolerance, material, and geometry risks early
• Prepare 2D and 3D tool models, detailed drawings, and BOMs for tool manufacturing
• Select die materials, heat treatment, clearances, and tool life parameters for thin-gauge stainless steel and CR materials
• Design gauges, fixtures, and inspection aids to support dimensional validation
• Estimate tool cost and manufacturing lead time for new component quotations
• Support die trials, debugging, and sample approval; implement design corrections until the tool is stable
• Work with the Tool Room and Press Shop to analyse recurring die wear, burr, and dimensional drift, and feed the fixes back into the design
• Contribute to DFMEA, Control Plan inputs, and PPAP documentation for new tools
• Maintain the tool design database, revision control, and tool history records

Required Skills:

• Press tool design for progressive dies, with strong strip-layout capability
• 3D CAD proficiency in NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks, plus AutoCAD for 2D detailing
• Knowledge of tool steels, heat treatment, die clearances, and press tonnage calculation
• GD&T and engineering drawing interpretation
• Practical understanding of die manufacturing, assembly, and trial processes
• Exposure to IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, and DFMEA

Preferred:

• Experience with thin-gauge or precision stamped components (below 0.5 mm)
• Experience with AutoForm or other forming simulation tools
• Post-diploma in Tool Design from NTTF, CIPET, CITD, or IGTR

Education: Diploma or B.E./B.Tech (Mechanical/Production/Tool & Die); Post-Diploma in Tool Design preferred

Experience: 5-10 years in press tool design, preferably in automotive component manufacturing

Other Requirements:

• Should be comfortable spending time on the tool room and press shop floor during trials, not only at the design desk