Mold Tool Maker

Cooper Standard Automotive; Sherman Park (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Standard Spartanburg, SC manufacturing plant is seeking a Mold Tool Maker to maintain, repair, and modify over 100 active plastic injection molds. Primary focus is mold repair, preventative maintenance, and modifications rather than building new molds from scratch.

The role requires hands-on machining, TIG and laser welding, troubleshooting, reading 2D drawings, and ensuring precise shut-offs. Join a diverse manufacturing team dedicated to quality and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in plastic injection mold repair or toolmaking.
• Proficient in TIG welding and precision laser welding for tool steels.
• Experience operating manual toolroom equipment (mills, lathes, surface grinders).
• Ability to read 2D drawings, blueprints, and tool schematics.
• Skilled with precision measuring instruments (micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gauges).
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting to identify wear, flashing, and parting line defects.

Responsibilities

• Mold repair to minimize production downtime.
• Modify mold components for engineering changes.
• Spot in and fit new molds, inserts, and replacement details.
• Set up and operate manual mills, lathes, grinders (no CNC).
• Perform TIG and micro-laser welding to repair tool details.
• Hand bench work including polishing, fitting, deburring, and assembly.
• Conduct preventative mold teardown, cleaning, inspection, and lubrication.

Skills

Mold repair

Welding (TIG)

Manual machining

Reading drawings

Precision measurement

Troubleshooting

Tools

Mills

Lathes

Surface grinders

Job description

The Cooper Standard Spartanburg, SC manufacturing plant is looking to hire a Toolmaker!

Position Summary

We are seeking a skilled Mold Tool Maker to maintain, repair, and modify our inventory of over 100 active plastic injection molds. In this role, you will not build new molds from scratch. Instead, you will focus on mold repair, preventative maintenance, engineering change modifications, and spotting in new molds or details.

Key Responsibilities

• Mold Repair: Diagnose and repair damaged, worn, or malfunctioning injection molds to minimize production downtime.
• Engineering Changes: Modify existing mold components and details to reflect engineering design updates.
• Spotting & Fitting: Spot in and fit new molds, core/cavity inserts, and replacement details to ensure precise shut-offs.
• Manual Machining: Set up and operate manual toolroom machinery including mills, lathes, and grinders (no CNC operation required).
• Precision Tooling Welding: Perform high-precision TIG and micro-laser welding to repair parting lines, gates, and worn tool details.
• Hand Bench Work: Execute precise hand polishing, fitting, deburring, and bench assembly of complex mold components.
• Preventative Maintenance: Perform routine mold teardowns, cleanings, inspections, and lubrication per production schedules.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of dedicated experience in plastic injection mold repair or toolmaking.
• Welding Skills: Proven proficiency in both TIG welding and precision laser welding for tool steels.
• Machining Skills: Strong competency operating manual toolroom equipment (mills, lathes, surface grinders).
• Technical Literacy: Ability to read and accurately interpret 2D engineering drawings, blue prints, and tool schematics.
• Precision Measurement: Expert use of precision measuring instruments including micrometers, calipers, indicators, and height gauges.
• Problem Solving: Strong mechanical troubleshooting skills to identify tool wear, flashing issues, and parting line defects.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to safely lift and maneuver heavy mold components up to 50 lbs.
• Excellent hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for prolonged, intricate bench work.

Cooper Standard is proud of its diverse workforce and committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, age, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are dedicated to creating an environment at work that not only values diversity but also encourages inclusion and a sense of belonging. We firmly believe that a diverse workplace fosters an environment where our employees can flourish and provide superior service to our customers.