Tool & Die Maker – Day Shift

Goodwin Recruiting; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid apprenticeship & development

Job summary

Goodwin Recruiting is assisting a precision manufacturing shop in LaOtto, IN to hire a Tool & Die Maker for building, repairing, and modifying custom tooling. You will interpret blueprints and GD&T, use mills, lathes, grinders, and EDMs, and independently manage projects from blueprint to finished part. Competitive hourly pay and a 1st shift exist.

You’ll join a low-volume, high-mix environment. You must have at least 4 years’ hands-on toolmaking experience, an apprenticeship or equivalent

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience operating manual mills, lathes, and surface grinders.
• Strong blueprint reading skills and ability to interpret technical drawings and GD&T.
• Experience using precision measuring instruments to verify tight tolerances.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, solve machining challenges, and collaborate with engineering and production teams.
• Hands-on experience building, repairing, or modifying custom tooling.

Responsibilities

• Build, troubleshoot, repair, and modify custom tooling for challenging projects.
• Independently take tooling projects from blueprint to finished product.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to deliver reliable solutions.
• Work on one-off and low-volume custom projects rather than high-volume production.

Skills

Blueprint reading

Troubleshooting

Mechanical aptitude

Problem solving

Education

Tool & Die apprenticeship

Tools

Manual mills

Lathes

Surface grinders

CNC machining

Wire EDM

Sinker EDM

G-code editing

Job description

Location: LaOtto, IN | Pay: $26–$38/hour | Shift: 1st Shift

Are you a skilled Tool & Die Maker who enjoys building precision tooling from the ground up rather than producing the same parts every day?

We're hiring an experienced Tool & Die Maker to join a growing custom precision manufacturing shop. This is a hands‑on opportunity to build, troubleshoot, repair, and modify custom tooling for unique manufacturing projects in a low-volume, high‑mix environment.

Whether you're an experienced toolmaker or have completed a formal apprenticeship, you'll have the opportunity to put your craftsmanship to work on challenging projects while continuing to develop your skills.

Tool & Die Maker Benefits and Compensation:

• $26–$38/hour, based on experience
• 1st Shift: 7:00 AM–3:30 PM
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid apprenticeship and ongoing professional development opportunities
• Stable, long‑term employment with opportunities for growth
• Variety of custom projects in a precision manufacturing environment

Tool & Die Maker Requirements & Qualifications:

• Minimum 4 years of hands‑on experience operating manual mills, lathes, and surface grinders.
• Strong blueprint reading skills and ability to interpret technical drawings and GD&T.
• Experience using precision measuring instruments to verify tight tolerances.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, solve machining challenges, and collaborate with engineering and production teams.

Must Haves:

• Hands‑on experience building, repairing, or modifying custom precision tooling.
• Ability to independently machine, fit, assemble, and troubleshoot tooling components from blueprints or CAD models.
• Experience diagnosing tooling failures and determining effective repair solutions.
• Ability to work on one‑off and low‑volume custom projects rather than repetitive production work.

Tool & Die Maker Preferred Background & Skills:

• Completed Tool & Die apprenticeship or equivalent technical training.
• Experience in a custom tool and die shop or precision job shop.
• Experience building molds, dies, jigs, fixtures, and gauges.
• Wire EDM and sinker EDM experience.
• CNC machining, programming, or G‑code editing experience.
• Experience machining complex components to tight tolerances.

What Success Looks Like:

You’ll independently take custom tooling projects from blueprint to finished product, producing precision components that meet exact specifications. You’ll troubleshoot challenging tooling problems, perform repairs and modifications, and collaborate with engineering to deliver reliable solutions.

This isn’t a high‑volume production shop. Every project brings something different, giving you the opportunity to apply your machining expertise, problem‑solving skills, and craftsmanship.

Additional Employment Requirements:

This position does not include relocation assistance. Candidates must live within commuting distance of LaOtto, IN (46763).

This is a direct‑hire position. Third‑party staffing, subcontracting, and Corp‑to‑Corp (C2C) arrangements will not be considered.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The employer will not provide employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.