TOOL & DIE / PRESS TECHNICIAN

Buckeye Fire Equipment Company; Kings Mountain (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckeye Fire Equipment Company is seeking an experienced Tool & Die Technician to support stamping and manufacturing operations in Kings Mountain, NC. The role focuses on maintaining and troubleshooting hydraulic and mechanical stamping presses, tooling, and related fixtures.

You will work closely with the Tooling Manager to advance into integrated manufacturing systems and press controls. Ideal candidates have 3+ years of Tool & Die experience, proficiency with manual tools (VKM, lathe,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Completion of a Tool & Die apprenticeship or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Minimum three years of Tool & Die experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build, repair, and troubleshoot production tooling.
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting hydraulic and/or mechanical stamping presses.
• Strong understanding of press setup, die installation, and production tooling.
• Proficiency with manual machine tools including Vertical Knee Mill, Engine Lathe, Surface Grinder, Saw and Drill Press.
• Strong blueprint reading skills.
• Excellent mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability.

Responsibilities

• Build, repair, troubleshoot, and improve production tooling.
• Install, align, and remove tooling from hydraulic and mechanical stamping presses.
• Diagnose tooling failures and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Repair, sharpen, fit, weld, grind, and rebuild die components.
• Fabricate fixtures, gauges, tooling details, and production aids.
• Read and interpret blueprints, tooling drawings, and engineering changes.
• Maintain tooling records and recommend improvements that increase die life and reduce downtime.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on hydraulic and mechanical stamping presses.
• Troubleshoot hydraulic systems including pumps, cylinders, valves, accumulators, manifolds, and lubrication systems.
• Diagnose mechanical press issues involving clutches, brakes, gibs, slide adjustments, cushions, and drive systems.
• Support press setup, startup, and troubleshooting.
• Expand into integrated manufacturing systems, press controls, PLC/HMI troubleshooting, process improvement, root cause analysis, and technical leadership.

Skills

Tool & Die experience

Hydraulic & mechanical presses

Blueprint reading

Troubleshooting

Mechanical aptitude

CAD familiarity

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tool & Die apprenticeship

Tools

Vertical Knee Mill

Engine Lathe

Surface Grinder

Drill Press

MIG/TIG welding

CAD software

Job description

Buckeye Fire Equipment is seeking an experienced Tool & Die Technician to support our stamping and manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in Tool & Die work, along with hands‑on experience maintaining and troubleshooting hydraulic and mechanical stamping presses. This position requires excellent mechanical aptitude, sound troubleshooting skills, and the ability to diagnose problems involving tooling, presses, materials, and manufacturing processes.

Working directly with the Tooling Manager, the successful candidate will expand this knowledge into integrated manufacturing systems, including press controls, automation, process improvement, and advanced troubleshooting. This position is intended for an individual who wants to become a key technical resource within Buckeye's manufacturing organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities – Tool & Die (Primary Responsibility)

• Build, repair, troubleshoot, and improve production tooling.
• Install, align, and remove tooling from hydraulic and mechanical stamping presses.
• Diagnose tooling failures and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Repair, sharpen, fit, weld, grind, and rebuild die components.
• Fabricate fixtures, gauges, tooling details, and production aids.
• Read and interpret blueprints, tooling drawings, and engineering changes.
• Maintain tooling records and recommend improvements that increase die life and reduce downtime.

Hydraulic & Mechanical Presses

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on hydraulic and mechanical stamping presses.
• Troubleshoot hydraulic systems including pumps, cylinders, valves, accumulators, manifolds, and lubrication systems.
• Diagnose mechanical press issues involving clutches, brakes, gibs, slide adjustments, cushions, and drive systems.
• Support press setup, startup, and troubleshooting.

Technical Development

• Expand into integrated manufacturing systems, press controls, PLC/HMI troubleshooting, process improvement, root cause analysis, and technical leadership.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Completion of a Tool & Die apprenticeship or equivalent hands‑on experience.
• Minimum three years of Tool & Die experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build, repair, and troubleshoot production tooling.
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting hydraulic and/or mechanical stamping presses.
• Strong understanding of press setup, die installation, and production tooling.
• Proficiency with manual machine tools including Vertical Knee Mill, Engine Lathe, Surface Grinder, Saw and Drill Press.
• Strong blueprint reading skills.
• Excellent mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressive die experience
• Deep draw tooling
• PLC/HMI familiarity
• Electrical troubleshooting
• Integrated manufacturing systems
• Servo/VFD experience
• MIG/TIG welding
• CNC machining
• CAD experience

Why Join Buckeye?

This position reports directly to the Tooling Manager and offers the opportunity to work alongside an experienced technical leader while developing expertise in tooling, hydraulic systems, mechanical presses, and integrated manufacturing systems. We're looking for someone who takes pride in craftsmanship, enjoys solving difficult mechanical problems, and wants to continually expand their technical knowledge.