Advanced Quality Tooling Engineer-Stamping

Slate Auto; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Vacation

401k

Equity Program

Annual Incentive

Job summary

Slate is seeking a Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer-Stamping to own vendor tooling across stamping, casting, extrusion and soft trim. You will manage tool awards, runoff readiness, PPAP and drive improvements with a focus on quality and on-time launches.

Lead and mentor SQEs, track milestones, evaluate capability data, and protect tooling budgets. This role requires strong communication and a proven auto industry track record in tooling and supplier quality.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equiv. or previous working level experience.
• 8+ years of experience in supplier tooling, tool engineering, or supplier quality with significant hands-on exposure to mold, die, and fixture design, construction, and runoff in an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication and supplier relationship skills, with the ability to hold tooling vendors accountable while maintaining productive working partnerships.
• Deep experience across tooling types for varied commodity groups including stampings, castings, extrusions, and structural components.
• Ability to identify tooling root causes for dimensional, cosmetic, or process capability issues and drive timely corrective action through structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa).
• Strong understanding of tooling program metrics including tool trial status, T1/T2/T3 build milestones, first article acceptance rates, and capacity verification results.
• Proficient in reading and interpreting GD&T, tool drawings, and die/mold design prints; experience working with CMM data, dimensional reports, and capability studies (Cpk, Ppk, Gauge R&R).
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High level of integrity, with the ability to communicate tooling risk clearly and elevate issues to program leadership without delay.
• Ability to manage multiple tooling programs simultaneously in a fast-paced launch environment, prioritizing effectively under program pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage Slate’s vendor tooling program across all commodity types — including stamped metal, castings, extrusions, and soft trim — from tool award through production runoff and PPAP approval.
• Track tooling build status and milestone adherence, conduct tool trials and first article inspections, evaluate dimensional and process capability data from tool-sourced parts, and drive corrective action on tooling-related non-conformances.
• Oversee Slate’s tooling asset register, coordinate Engineering Change implementation at the tool level, support capacity verification activities, and partner with Purchasing and Program Management to protect tooling budgets and timing.
• In a lead capacity, guide less experienced SQEs on tooling evaluation methods and supplier engagement strategies.

Skills

Tooling engineering

Supplier quality

Mold & Die Design

GD&T interpretation

CMM data analysis

Problem solving (8D)

Project leadership

Communication skills

Integrity

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

GD&T drawings

Die/Mold design prints

Capability studies (Cpk, Ppk)

Job description

ABOUT SLATE

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Slate is looking for an energetic, organized, experienced Senior Supplier Quality Tooling Engineer-Stamping to join our growing team. The Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer will serve as Slate’s primary technical authority on vendor tooling, molds, and dies across the supply base. This role owns tooling compliance, asset tracking, runoff readiness, and launch support — ensuring that supplier tooling is capable, documented, and production-ready at every program milestone. As a senior-level contributor, this individual also provides technical mentorship to SQEs interfacing with tooling-intensive suppliers.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO

• In this position, the candidate will be responsible for managing Slate’s vendor tooling program across all commodity types — including stamped metal, castings, extrusions, and soft trim — from tool award through production runoff and PPAP approval.
• Responsibilities include tracking tooling build status and milestone adherence, conducting tool trials and first article inspections, evaluating dimensional and process capability data from tool-sourced parts, and driving corrective action on tooling-related non-conformances.
• The Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer will also oversee Slate’s tooling asset register, coordinate Engineering Change implementation at the tool level, support capacity verification activities, and partner with Purchasing and Program Management to protect tooling budgets and timing.
• In a lead capacity, this individual will guide less experienced SQEs on tooling evaluation methods and supplier engagement strategies.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• Engineering Degree or equiv. or previous working level experience.
• 8+ years of experience in supplier tooling, tool engineering, or supplier quality with significant hands-on exposure to mold, die, and fixture design, construction, and runoff in an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication and supplier relationship skills, with the ability to hold tooling vendors accountable while maintaining productive working partnerships.
• Deep experience across tooling types for varied commodity groups including stampings, castings, extrusions, and structural components.
• Ability to identify tooling root causes for dimensional, cosmetic, or process capability issues and drive timely corrective action through structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa).
• Strong understanding of tooling program metrics including tool trial status, T1/T2/T3 build milestones, first article acceptance rates, and capacity verification results.
• Proficient in reading and interpreting GD&T, tool drawings, and die/mold design prints; experience working with CMM data, dimensional reports, and capability studies (Cpk, Ppk, Gauge R&R).
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High level of integrity, with the ability to communicate tooling risk clearly and elevate issues to program leadership without delay.
• Ability to manage multiple tooling programs simultaneously in a fast-paced launch environment, prioritizing effectively under program pressure.

Salary Range

The compensation for this position is the range Slate reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; work location; and other relevant business and organizational factors.

Base Pay Range (Annual) $123,339.00 - $185,009.00 USD Annual

• Seb offers a wide range of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation, and 401k.
• The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in the equity program and/or a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing such programs.

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles. Safety First Delight Customers One Team Relentless Improvement Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy Respectful Collaboration Positive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

SLA, ...

About Us

At Slate, we’ve got one job: building a vehicle you’ll fall in love with, right here in the USA. We believe that car buyers—not car companies—should call the shots. We like looking at a road, not a screen. We don’t like paying for stuff we don’t need. We like picking out the stuff we do need. We think dings are badges, not blemishes. But we know not everyone likes what we like. So, we built you a Slate: you make it yours.