Senior Plastic Tooling Engineer - Supplier & Launch Lead

Slate; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Slate is seeking a Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer-Plastics in Troy, MI to lead the vendor tooling program across plastics tooling, from award to production runoff and PPAP. You will drive tool trials, inspections, and root-cause analysis while mentoring SQEs and partnering with Purchasing to safeguard tooling budgets.

The role requires 8+ years in tooling, strong GD&T and CMM data skills, and the ability to manage multiple programs in a fast-paced automotive environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in supplier tooling, tool engineering, or supplier quality with hands-on exposure to mold, die, and fixture design, construction, and runoff in an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication and supplier relationship skills, with the ability to hold tooling vendors accountable while maintaining productive working partnerships.
• Deep experience across tooling types for varied commodity groups including injection-molded plastics.
• Ability to identify tooling root causes for dimensional, cosmetic, or process capability issues and drive timely corrective action through structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa).
• Strong understanding of tooling program metrics including tool trial status, T1/T2/T3 build milestones, first article acceptance rates, and capacity verification results.
• Proficient in reading and interpreting GD&T, tool drawings, and die/mold design prints; experience working with CMM data, dimensional reports, and capability studies (Cpk, Ppk, Gauge R&R).
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High level of integrity, with the ability to communicate tooling risk clearly and escalate issues to program leadership without delay.
• Ability to manage multiple tooling programs simultaneously in a fast-paced launch environment, prioritizing effectively under program pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage Slate’s vendor tooling program across all commodity types—from tool award through production runoff and PPAP approval.
• Track tooling build status and milestone adherence.
• Conduct tool trials and first article inspections.
• Evaluate dimensional and process capability data from tool-sourced parts.
• Drive corrective action on tooling-related non-conformances.
• Oversee tooling asset register and coordinate Engineering Change at the tool level.
• Support capacity verification activities.
• Partner with Purchasing and Program Management to protect tooling budgets and timing.
• Guide less experienced SQEs on tooling evaluation methods and supplier engagement strategies.

Skills

Tooling engineering

Supplier quality

GD&T interpretation

Communication skills

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

CMM data

CAD tooling design

Job description

Slate is seeking a Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer-Plastics in Troy, MI to lead the vendor tooling program across plastics tooling, from award to production runoff and PPAP. You will drive tool trials, inspections, and root-cause analysis while mentoring SQEs and partnering with Purchasing to safeguard tooling budgets.

The role requires 8+ years in tooling, strong GD&T and CMM data skills, and the ability to manage multiple programs in a fast-paced automotive environment.