Associate Manager, Tooling and Process Engineering

AptarGroup, Inc.; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Job summary

AptarGroup, Inc. is seeking a senior Mold & Process Engineering leader to own the full lifecycle of injection molds and to drive process development for new product launches.

The role requires over a decade of injection molding experience, a strong track record in leadership, and expertise in mold design and scientific molding principles. You will lead a team of Tooling Technicians, Process Technicians, and Engineers, partnering with Quality, Maintenance, Production, and Supply Chain to meet

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of injection molding experience including tooling and process engineering.
• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience. Expertise in mold design, thermoplastics processing, and scientific molding principles.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the complete lifecycle of injection molds, including design reviews, sourcing, validation, launch, preventive maintenance, and refurbishment.
• Establish and maintain mold PM standards, spare parts strategies, and tooling documentation.
• Partner with tool shops and mold suppliers to ensure quality, timing, and cost targets are met.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for mold-related downtime, quality issues, or performance gaps.
• Approve mold modifications and engineering changes to improve reliability, cycle time, and part quality.
• Develop, standardize, and approve robust injection molding processes (Scientific / Decoupled Molding preferred).
• Lead process development for new product launches including DOE, mold trials, and validation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for scrap reduction, cycle-time optimization, and process stability.
• Ensure documented process standards and setup sheets are controlled and followed.
• Serve as escalation point for complex molding and processing issues.
• Directly manage and mentor Tooling Technicians, Process Technicians, and Process Engineers.
• Set performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create skill development plans.
• Build bench strength through training, cross-functional exposure, and succession planning.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Production, and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues.
• Support audits, customer visits, and technical reviews as the senior molding expert.
• Provide technical input to capital projects, automation, and equipment selection.
• Support ISO, regulatory, and customer-specific compliance activities.
• Improve mold uptime, scrap rates, and process capability (Cp/Cpk).
• Reduce startup, changeover, and launch inefficiencies.
• Ensure new tools and processes meet performance and delivery expectations.

Skills

Injection molding experience

Process engineering

Leadership

DOE

Education

Bachelor-level Engineering or related

RJG Master Molder certification

Tools

ERP/MES

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Tooling Leadership & Mold Management
  • Own the complete lifecycle of injection molds, including design reviews, sourcing, validation, launch, preventive maintenance, and refurbishment
  • Establish and maintain mold PM standards, spare parts strategies, and tooling documentation
  • Partner with tool shops and mold suppliers to ensure quality, timing, and cost targets are met
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for mold-related downtime, quality issues, or performance gaps
  • Approve mold modifications and engineering changes to improve reliability, cycle time, and part quality
• Process Engineering & Optimization
  • Develop, standardize, and approve robust injection molding processes (Scientific / Decoupled Molding preferred)
  • Lead process development for new product launches including DOE, mold trials, and validation
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives for scrap reduction, cycle-time optimization, and process stability
  • Ensure documented process standards and setup sheets are controlled and followed
  • Serve as escalation point for complex molding and processing issues
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Directly manage and mentor Tooling Technicians, Process Technicians, and Process Engineers
  • Set performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create skill development plans
  • Build bench strength through training, cross-functional exposure, and succession planning
  • Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Production, and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues
  • Support audits, customer visits, and technical reviews as the senior molding expert
  • Provide technical input to capital projects, automation, and equipment selection
  • Support ISO, regulatory, and customer-specific compliance activities
• Metrics & Accountability
  • Improve mold uptime, scrap rates, and process capability (Cp/Cpk)
  • Reduce startup, changeover, and launch inefficiencies
  • Ensure new tools and processes meet performance and delivery expectations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of injection molding experience including tooling and process engineering
• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experienceExpert knowledge of mold design, thermoplastics processing, and scientific molding principles
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills

Preferred Qualifications

• RJG Master Molder certification or equivalent
• Experience with automated or high-cavitation molding environments
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification
• ERP or MES experience related to tooling and process control

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, heat, and moving equipment. Occasional travel to tool shops, suppliers, or customers. Off-shift support may be required