Prototype Tool & Die Designer – Stamping

Socket.dev; Clinton Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Tuition reimbursement

People with a criminal record areEncou

Job summary

Synergy Prototype Stamping seeks an experienced Tool & Die and Fixture Designer with a focus on prototype and low-to-medium volume sheet metal stamping. You will design dies and fixtures, work with customer data, and coordinate with internal and external teams to ensure on-time builds.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in tool design, strong CAD skills (NX11, Fusion 360, KeyCreator), and a deep understanding of GD&T and sheet metal forming while ensuring manufacturability and quality.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of tool design experience.
• Prototype or job-shop tooling experience.
• Strong background in prototype and low-to-medium volume sheet metal stamping.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal forming, stamping die construction, tooling components, fixture design, tolerances, and practical shop-manufacturing methods.
• Ability to design using NX11, Fusion 360, KeyCreator, or other professional 3D CAD authoring software.
• Working knowledge of SpinFire or similar CAD-viewing/analysis software is helpful for reviewing customer data.
• Ability to interpret complex part drawings, 3D CAD data, GD&T, customer specifications, and engineering changes.
• Ability to develop clear, complete drawings and design-release information that can be understood and built by internal toolmakers or outside vendors.
• Ability to take tooling from concept through build, tryout, correction, approval, and release.
• Strong problem-solving, organization, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, follow verbal or written direction, manage multiple priorities, and work effectively as part of a team.
• Strong customer relations and professional communication with customers, vendors, and internal teams.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Commitment to quality, safety, customer service, and ISO 9001:2015 requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design prototype and low-volume stamping dies.
• Design check fixtures, check aids, welding fixtures, and assembly fixtures.
• Support fast-paced prototype and early-production programs with changing customer requirements and tight timelines.
• Make practical decisions between simple tooling that relies on skilled job leaders and more detailed tooling designed for repeatability.
• Balance speed, cost, functionality, repeatability, safety, and manufacturability in real-world shop conditions.
• Work from customer CAD data, drawings, sketches, specifications, and other shop information to develop tooling needed to form and fabricate parts.
• Create and maintain accurate 3D models, 2D detail drawings, assembly drawings, bills of material, and other design-release information needed for internal or outside tool build.
• Apply sound tooling-design practices related to sheet metal forming, clearances, tolerances, material flow, press requirements, access, serviceability, and buildability.
• Interpret and apply GD&T, datum structures, tolerances, customer specifications, and engineering changes when developing tooling and fixtures.
• Work closely with the shop foreman, Operations, Purchasing, Sales, Project Management, Quality, and outside vendors to confirm scope, material, timing, design intent, and build strategy.
• Participate in design reviews and identify manufacturability, tooling, capacity, material, cost, timing, or quality concerns before release.
• Coordinate with internal toolmakers and outside vendors during tool build, answer design questions, and provide revisions or clarifications when approved changes are required.
• Support tool build, tryout, debug, dimensional correction, and final buy-off; troubleshoot tooling or part-quality issues and recommend practical design corrections.
• Maintain accurate revision control and update released or as-built design data so current tooling information remains available for future work.
• Support estimating, feasibility reviews, and continuous-improvement efforts when tooling knowledge can improve cost, timing, quality, or manufacturability.
• Follow ISO 9001:2015 standards, procedures, and document-control requirements.
• Complete all required paperwork and maintain accurate design and project records.
• Communicate schedule risks, missing information, design issues, and required decisions early enough for the team to act before they affect delivery.
• Consider programming time, machining time, tooling availability, and shop capability when selecting design approaches so the design is not unnecessarily complex or costly to manufacture.
• Support resolution of CNC/manufacturing issues involving tooling geometry, machining access, tolerances, fixtures, setup, or design intent.
• Coordinate with CNC on current and upcoming jobs, including stock requirements, material availability, machining priorities, and design questions that could affect schedule.
• Design tooling with CNC machining strategy in mind, including stock size, cutter access, setup limitations, tolerances, sequencing, and material removal.
• Work closely with CNC programmers/machinists to ensure tooling designs are practical to machine and efficient to program.

Job description

Synergy Prototype Stamping seeks an experienced Tool & Die and Fixture Designer with a focus on prototype and low-to-medium volume sheet metal stamping. You will design dies and fixtures, work with customer data, and coordinate with internal and external teams to ensure on-time builds.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in tool design, strong CAD skills (NX11, Fusion 360, KeyCreator), and a deep understanding of GD&T and sheet metal forming while ensuring manufacturability and quality.