Associate Manager, Tooling and Process Engineering

Aptar Italia S.P.A.; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company located in Alabama seeks an Associate Manager for Tooling and Process Engineering. The role involves managing the complete lifecycle of injection molds, optimizing injection molding processes, and leading a team of technicians and engineers. Ideal candidates should have over 10 years of experience in injection molding and strong leadership skills. The position operates in a manufacturing environment and may require occasional travel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of injection molding experience including tooling and process engineering.
• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Expert knowledge of mold design and thermoplastics processing.

Responsibilities

• Own the complete lifecycle of injection molds including design reviews and maintenance.
• Develop and standardize robust injection molding processes.
• Directly manage and mentor Tooling Technicians and Engineers.

Skills

Injection molding expertise

Leadership skills

Problem-solving

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems

MES systems

Scientific molding principles

Job description

Associate Manager, Tooling and Process Engineering

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 experience
• Expert 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.