Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Plastic Molding Technology Llc; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Dynamic manufacturing environment

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Plastic Molding Technology is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead injection molding across our Centennial and El Paso sites. You will define standards, guide tooling development, and oversee tool design, evaluation, and launches to ensure performance and long-term manufacturability.

The role requires deep experience in process and tooling engineering, with a focus on data-driven decisions and cross-site collaboration to align with business growth objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related with plastics emphasis.
• 15+ years in an injection molding manufacturing environment.
• Expertise in specifying injection molding equipment, tooling, and vendor proposals.
• Advanced use of data-driven decision making for process improvements.
• Capable of leading capital projects and cross-site initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal technical authority for injection molding across all facilities.
• Define standards, best practices, and procedures for injection molding execution.
• Lead evaluation and kickoff of new injection molding tools with performance and manufacturability focus.
• Collaborate with mold builders during tool design, review, and launch phases.
• Support capital planning, equipment selection, and site expansion strategies.

Skills

Injection molding

Process engineering

Tooling engineering

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Data analysis

Capital planning

Cross-site collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelors in Plastics/Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

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Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Full Time Technical Centennial, CO, US

30+ days ago Requisition ID: 1207

Salary Range: $145,000.00 To $175,000.00 Annually

Company Description:

Plastic Molding Technology (PMT) manufactures high precision plastic parts for automotive, telecommunications, medical device, renewable energy, and industrial customers. The primary manufacturing processes are injection molding and thermoforming. PMT has ~100 injection molding presses at its two primary manufacturing locations in El Paso, TX and Centennial, CO (a suburb of Denver).

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative manufacturing environment
• Growth potential within the company

What you’ll do:

• Serve as the principal technical authority for injection molding across all company facilities
• Define, maintain, and evolve enterprise-wide standards, best practices, and procedures for injection molding execution
• Provide expert technical guidance to the Director of Engineering, process engineers, manufacturing engineers, and leadership on complex, high-impact, or non-standard technical decisions
• Lead the technical evaluation, quoting, and kickoff of all new injection molding tools, ensuring alignment with performance, quality, and long-term manufacturability requirements
• Act as the primary technical interface with mold builders during tool design, review, and launch phases
• Support new program launches by establishing robust process strategies and resolving tooling-related risks
• Define technical specifications for injection molding machines, auxiliary equipment, and automation, including development of RFQs and evaluation of vendor proposals
• Collaborate with leadership and finance on capital planning, including equipment selection, replacement strategy, and expansion planning
• Support capital projects through technical justification, vendor engagement, and execution oversight
• Drive efforts to standardize molding systems and practices across sites to improve consistency, efficiency, scalability, and long-term maintainability
• Identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary engineering labor from quoting and execution workflows by implementing smarter systems, standards, and tools
• Support development of training frameworks and technical documentation to reinforce standardized execution
• Support capacity analysis, equipment sizing, and right-sizing of molding operations to meet current and future business needs
• Provide technical input into plant layouts, equipment placement, and facility growth plans
• Partner with operations and leadership to ensure manufacturing strategy aligns with business growth objectives
• Serve as the corporate technical representative with equipment OEMs, tooling vendors, automation suppliers, and industry partners.
• Support site teams as needed for complex process challenges, critical customer issues, or strategic initiatives.Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in injection molding
• Performs other duties as assigned

What we’re looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline with a strong emphasis in plastics manufacturing. Advanced degree (Master’s) or equivalent combination of education and progressive industry experience demonstrating sustained technical leadership and authority
• 15+ years of progressive experience in an injection molding manufacturing environment, with deep expertise in process engineering and/or tooling engineering
• Demonstrated expertise in specifying injection molding equipment, auxiliary systems, and tooling, including development of technical requirements and evaluation of vendor proposals
• Advanced proficiency in scientific injection molding principles and their practical application in production and tooling development
• Proven experience with capacity planning, equipment sizing, and right-sizing manufacturing operations to support growth and efficiency
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to capital projects, including technical justification, capital request development, and execution support
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to align technical decisions with broader business objectives, cost considerations, and long-term strategy
• Functional working knowledge of AutoCAD and SolidWorks sufficient to review layouts, tooling concepts, and equipment integration
• Strong background in data-driven decision making, including use of process data, metrics, and analysis to guide technical direction
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for technical analysis, documentation, and executive-level communication
• Demonstrated ability to learn and effectively utilize new software tools and systems used by the organization
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage plant personnel, engineering teams, leadership, customers, and external vendors
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, particularly for complex, cross-site technical challenges
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities independently
• Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and staying current with industry best practices and emerging technologies
• High level of attention to detail combined with systems-level perspective
• Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently

This position is on-site in Centennial, CO, with travel as needed to support strategic initiatives, major launches, and critical technical engagements.

Plastic Molding Technology does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies or third-party recruiters. Any resumes submitted to our employees or hiring managers without a formal, signed agreement in place with Human Resources will be considered property of Plastic Molding Technology. We will not be liable for any fees related to unsolicited submissions and will not recognize any claims to candidate ownership. A valid contract must be executed before any candidate submissions are accepted.