Senior Tooling Engineer/ Tooling Manager

Nolato Tucson; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nolato Tucson is seeking a Senior Tooling Engineer to lead molding tooling design and development for our precision plastic injection operations in Tucson, AZ. You will guide projects from concept through production, focusing on reliability, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness.

You will manage cross-functional teams across Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering, drive APQP milestones, coordinate mold trials, and collaborate with external mold makers and vendors to deliver innovative

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in injection mold design, tooling engineering, or injection molding manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of plastic injection molding processes, mold construction, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.
• Experience managing multiple tooling projects and coordinating cross-functional engineering teams.
• Knowledge of injection molding automation and tooling integration within automated manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with external mold makers, tooling vendors, and suppliers.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate injection mold designs for functionality, manufacturability, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead mold design reviews, engineering modifications, and tooling improvement initiatives.
• Troubleshoot complex injection molding and tooling issues to improve reliability, productivity, and overall equipment performance.
• Oversee Tool Room operations, including preventive maintenance, mold repairs, modifications, and scheduling.
• Establish and manage mold maintenance schedules to minimize downtime and maximize tool life.
• Lead cross-functional teams through design reviews, APQP, and tooling development milestones.
• Coordinate mold trials, sample submissions, and tooling validation activities.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage external mold makers and tooling suppliers.

Skills

Mold design

Tooling engineering

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Vendor management

APQP

Automation integration

Troubleshooting

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

About the Opportunity

Nolato Tucson is seeking an experienced Senior Tooling Engineer to lead tooling engineering initiatives within our precision plastic injection molding operations.

This position plays a critical role in managing injection mold projects from design and development through production, maintenance, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise in mold design, tooling troubleshooting, vendor management, and cross-functional project leadership.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineering professional who thrives in a collaborative manufacturing environment and is passionate about delivering high-quality, innovative tooling solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Tooling Engineering & Design

• Evaluate injection mold designs for functionality, manufacturability, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead mold design reviews, engineering modifications, and tooling improvement initiatives.
• Troubleshoot complex injection molding and tooling issues to improve reliability, productivity, and overall equipment performance.
• Support the integration of injection molds into automated manufacturing work cells.
• Identify and implement innovative tooling technologies and continuous improvement opportunities.

Tooling Operations & Maintenance

• Oversee Tool Room operations, including preventive maintenance, mold repairs, modifications, and scheduling.
• Establish and manage mold maintenance schedules to minimize downtime and maximize tool life.
• Prioritize tooling activities based on production demands, operational requirements, and project timelines.
• Provide technical direction and support to tooling personnel and mold maintenance teams.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Manage multiple injection molding tooling projects from initial design through production implementation.
• Lead cross-functional teams through design reviews, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and tooling development milestones.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Automation, Engineering, and Program Management teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Coordinate mold trials, sample submissions, and tooling validation activities.
• Support customer requirements, quality expectations, and project deliverables.

Vendor & Supplier Management

• Identify, evaluate, and manage external mold makers and tooling suppliers.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations, negotiate pricing, and recommend tooling solutions.
• Coordinate purchase orders for external mold repairs, modifications, and new tooling.
• Monitor supplier performance, quality, cost, and delivery commitments.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in injection mold design, tooling engineering, or injection molding manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of plastic injection molding processes, mold construction, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.
• Experience managing multiple tooling projects and coordinating cross-functional engineering teams.
• Knowledge of injection molding automation and tooling integration within automated manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with external mold makers, tooling vendors, and suppliers.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to provide technical leadership in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing or precision plastic injection molding.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar CAD software.
• Experience with APQP, mold qualification, and tooling validation processes.
• Demonstrated success improving mold performance, reducing tooling costs, and increasing production efficiency.
• Knowledge of emerging mold design, manufacturing, and tooling technologies.