Design Technician Intern

Socket.dev; Plymouth (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Medical Insurance

Paid Time Off & Holidays

Health Savings Account

Job summary

ProMed is seeking an experienced Tooling Engineer to design and optimize precision tooling and fixtures for medical device manufacturing. You will translate customer requirements into robust design solutions, ensuring manufacturability and quality while collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams.

The role emphasizes reducing downtime, minimizing rework, and managing tool performance and lifecycle costs within an ISO-compliant environment.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Creo Parametric or SolidWorks and working knowledge of tooling practices.
• English communication (verbal and written) with management, customers, and colleagues.
• Interpret customer drawings and technical specifications accurately.
• At least 5 years of related experience in injection molding.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications and design documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design innovative tooling and fixture solutions to optimize manufacturing efficiency.
• Establish comprehensive design requirements through cross-functional collaboration.
• Drive continuous improvement in tool design and performance.
• Manage component inventory and procurement processes to support timely project execution.
• Apply injection molding principles to inform design decisions and reduce rework.

Skills

Creo Parametric

SolidWorks

Injection Molding

Tooling Design

Fabrication Techniques

Engineering Drawing Interpretation

EOAT Design

Project Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Problem Solving

Procurement & Vendor Mgmt

MS Office

Education

2-year technical/vocational degree or equivalent engineering education

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Team: Operations Engineering

As a ProMed employee, you will contribute to the manufacture of products that have a significant impact on people’s lives. Through honesty, integrity, and collaboration, we strive to be the very best as we hire the very best.

ProMed was founded in 1989 addressing an industry need for cleanroom manufacturing of silicone components, specifically those having a medical application. We treat every component and finished device as though it will be used by a beloved family member or friend. We are dedicated to our customers and to our employees while helping to improve the health and well-being of people around the world.

Working as one to help many.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

The mission of this role is to drive manufacturing excellence through the design and optimization of precision tooling, fixtures, and end-of-arm equipment that directly enable efficient, high-quality medical device production. This position ensures manufacturing operations maintain continuity and meet stringent quality standards by delivering first-time-right designs that minimize rework, reduce production downtime, and control tooling costs. By translating customer requirements and manufacturing constraints into robust technical solutions, the role supports both operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. Through continuous improvement of tool performance and longevity, this position contributes to reduced total cost of ownership while maintaining the exacting standards required in medical device manufacturing.

WHAT YOU’LL ACHIEVE

While the ways that you fulfill these responsibilities will likely evolve, your core responsibilities are:

Design innovative tooling and fixture solutions to optimize manufacturing efficiency, resulting in reduced production lead times and enhanced product quality

On average this should be about 35% of your time. Among other things this means we expect you to:

• Complete designs in Creo Parametric or Solidworks using efficient and organized modeling techniques
• Utilize software, standards, and existing designs to reduce project lead time and maintain consistency
• Conduct design reviews with engineering and tooling teams to validate design inputs and ensure manufacturability
• Prepare and manage layout drawings when applicable to communicate design intent

Establish comprehensive design requirements through cross-functional collaboration, resulting in safe, high-quality tool builds that meet customer specifications

On average this should be about 25% of your time. Among other things this means we expect you to:

• Interact and collaborate with customers to effectively support and recommend appropriate design changes
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to establish design inputs based on customer and part requirements
• Keep internal stakeholders aware of design status and progress through regular communication
• Ensure documentation meets quality systems requirements and regulatory standards

Drive continuous improvement in tool design and performance, resulting in extended tooling life and reduced manufacturing costs

On average this should be about 20% of your time. Among other things this means we expect you to:

• Solicit feedback on the results of tool fabrication and part manufacturing to better future designs
• Analyze tool performance data to identify opportunities for design optimization
• Recommend changes to tool designs to improve the life of the tooling and reduce maintenance requirements
• Design, document, and provide scope of work for tool modifications and repairs

Manage component inventory and procurement processes to support timely project execution, resulting in minimized project delays and optimized material costs

On average this should be about 10% of your time. Among other things this means we expect you to:

• Coordinate with suppliers and vendors to ensure quality and timely delivery of materials
• Complete purchase requisitions as needed for tooling components and materials
• Maintain inventory of components and materials to ensure availability for projects

Apply deep knowledge of injection molding and tooling practices to inform design decisions, resulting in improved first-time-right designs and reduced rework

On average this should be about 10% of your time. Among other things this means we expect you to:

• Apply injection molding principles to optimize tool designs for manufacturability and part quality
• Leverage thorough knowledge and understanding of tooling practices and fabrication techniques in design work
• Understand and interpret customer drawings to ensure design alignment with specifications

Necessary Skills:

• Creo Parametric (Expert)
• SolidWorks (Expert)
• Injection Molding Processes (Expert)
• Tooling Design and Fabrication (Expert)
• Engineering Drawing Interpretation (Expert)
• EOAT Design (Proficient)
• Fixture Design (Proficient)
• Design for Manufacturability (Proficient)
• Quality Systems and Documentation (Proficient)
• Project Management (Proficient)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Proficient)
• Cross-Functional Collaboration (Proficient)
• Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis (Proficient)
• Technical Communication (Proficient)
• Procurement and Vendor Management (Basic)
• Inventory Management (Basic)

Minimum Qualifications For The Role:

1. Proficiency in Creo Parametric or SolidWorks
2. Working knowledge of English (verbal and written) for effective communication with management, customers, and colleagues
3. 2-year technical/vocational degree or equivalent engineering education
4. Ability to understand and interpret customer drawings and technical specifications
5. At least 5 years of related experience in injection molding
6. Proficiency with MS Office applications
7. A demonstrable working knowledge of tooling practices and fabrication techniques

PHYSICAL, SENSORY, COGNITIVE, & NEUROLOGICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Ability to stoop, bend, squat, kneel, reach, stand, walk, lift, pull, push, and grasp as required for design review and manufacturing floor activities
2. Visual acuity for close vision work including reading handwritten or typed material and the ability to adjust focus for detailed design work
3. Ability to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with internal and external stakeholders
4. Ability to move about the building and maneuver in tight spaces between desks and equipment
5. Ability to walk on even or uneven surfaces when visiting manufacturing areas
6. Manual dexterity for grasping and manipulating pens, markers, scissors, staplers, and other office tools
7. Ability to use whiteboards which may require grasping pens, reaching at, below, or above shoulder height, and trunk or neck rotation
8. Physical capability to push or pull equipment such as computers, overhead projectors, and work-related equipment requiring approximately 25+ pounds of force
9. Ability to see and hear on a continuous basis as well as speak frequently for collaboration and communication
10. Physical stamina to vary between standing, sitting, and walking throughout the workday, with occasional need to move quickly over smooth or uneven surfaces

HOW YOUR SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED

Determinationof how successful you are is a mix of WHAT you achieve, HOW you achieve it, and how you GROW over time.

Your Key Performance Indicators:

1. Design Completion Rate
2. First-Time-Right Design Quality
3. Tool Performance and Longevity
4. Customer Design Approval Rate
5. Design Review Cycle Time
6. Cost Efficiency of Designs

Expected Competencies:

• Technical Design Proficiency - Demonstrates advanced capability in CAD software and design principles to create efficient, manufacturable tooling solutions. This competency enables the creation of high-quality designs that meet both customer specifications and internal manufacturing requirements while minimizing rework and production delays.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - Works effectively across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and customer teams to gather requirements and validate designs. This competency ensures that designs incorporate diverse perspectives and technical inputs, resulting in comprehensive solutions that address all stakeholder needs.
• Problem-Solving and Analysis - Applies fact-based analytical thinking to diagnose design challenges and develop innovative solutions. This competency drives continuous improvement in tool performance and enables strategic recommendations that extend tooling life and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Manufacturing and Tooling Expertise - Possesses thorough knowledge of injection molding processes, tooling fabrication techniques, and manufacturing best practices. This competency ensures designs are optimized for manufacturability, quality, and efficiency while meeting safety and regulatory standards.
• Attention to Detail and Quality Focus - Maintains unwavering commitment to precision in design documentation, specifications, and quality systems compliance. This competency ensures that all designs meet rigorous quality standards and regulatory requirements critical to medical device manufacturing.
• Initiative and Independent Work - Takes ownership of design projects and works independently with minimal supervision while maintaining accountability for results. This competency enables efficient project execution and demonstrates the ability to prioritize competing demands in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
• Communication and Stakeholder Management - Communicates design concepts, progress, and recommendations clearly and effectively to management, customers, and colleagues through both oral and written channels. This competency ensures alignment across teams and enables successful collaboration on complex technical projects.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset - Actively seeks feedback on design outcomes and applies lessons learned to enhance future designs and processes. This competency drives ongoing optimization of tooling performance and contributes to company-wide quality and efficiency improvements.

ProMed offers a generous benefits package including:

• 401k with company match
• Profit Sharing Program
• Medical Insurance
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Family Medical Leave and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Accident, and Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance

ProMed does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection, disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, public assistance, family status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information or other segmenting factor protected by law, or local human rights commission activity.

1st Shift