Tooling Engineer

Brightpath Associates LLC; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightpath Associates LLC seeks a Tooling Engineer to oversee design, development, and qualification of injection molds. You will coordinate tooling suppliers, manage APQP processes, and ensure timely, on-budget delivery with high quality.

Strong mold-making background and SolidWorks expertise are required. The role emphasizes project leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement to reduce lead times and improve mold performance.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Plastics/Polymer/Mechanical or related engineering with related mold experience.
• Experience with 3D CAD for product/tool design (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience setting up, running, and interpreting MFA.
• Strong knowledge of injection molding processes and operations.
• PM skills and familiarity with APQP, ERP/QA systems.
• Six Sigma belt and project management certification are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design reviews for injection molds and ensure conformance to standards.
• Coordinate tooling procurement, tooling shops, and supplier oversight.
• Manage projects to schedule, budget, and quality targets.
• Communicate status and issues to stakeholders using APQP/ERP systems.
• Identify moldability improvements and lead continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Injection molding

Project management

Mold design

SolidWorks

MFA (mold filling analysis)

Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)

CAD proficiency

Mold making

Scientific molding

Education

B.S. in Plastics / Polymer / Mechanical or related engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD systems

Job description

The Tooling Engineer performs a variety of duties ensuring appropriate, functional, and well-designed injection molds This includes ensuring effective project/program management and customer communication take place.

• Demonstrates a primary and unwavering concern for the safety of themselves and others.
• Interfaces with customers, suppliers,
• Assists Cost Estimating with preparing and communicating customer quotations
• Provides the primary technical liaison with the customer
• Coordinates outside tooling and ensures timely completion and quality tools are procured
• Manages the APQP process and effectively communicating project progress and issues to all project stakeholders
• Takes responsibility for the overall financial and schedule status of projects assigned; working with Ferriot Manufacturing, QC, Scheduling and Procurement (and suppliers as needed), to ensure projects are on budget, on time, and meet expectations
• Reviews customer products to identify moldability issues, steel conditions, potential cost saving ideas and ways to reduce mold lead time and improve quality
• Reviews mold designs to ensure adherence to customer specifications and requirements, as well as conformance to Ferriot tool design standards
• Schedules and leads project review meetings. Providing oversight for all activities in the project
• Works with tool shop suppliers to oversee and approve the designs of all injection molds (new & modifications). Approving molds for shipment to Ferriot and releasing molds to production
• Works closely with all manufacturing and administrative personnel to achieve departmental and company goals
• Communicates using ERP system, APQP system, and standard reporting mechanisms available
• Develops, maintains, and publishes project timelines
• Tracks and manages changes to project scope to ensure schedule and financial issues are properly documented and resolved
• Performs other duties and functions as assigned

Reports to:

Manager of Engineering

Requirements:

Education: B.S. in Plastics / Polymer / Mechanical or related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience gained through mold making, mold design or tooling engineering.

• Working knowledge of plastics injection molds and designs, including mold building, thermoplastic resins, engineering resins, plastic injection equipment and injection methodology
• Knowledge and experience using 3D CAD for product and/or tool design (SolidWorks preferred)
• Must have experience with setting up, running, and interpreting mold filling analysis (MFA)
• Solid knowledge of injection molding processes and operations.

Project Management:

• Demonstrated project management skills
• Experienced with use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Knowledge of formal project management methods and project management software is desirable
• Working knowledge of engineering and commodity resins
• Knowledge of drafting and tolerancing techniques, including G.D.&T
• Intermediate 3D CAD skills and able to operate CAD systems for translating, viewing, and modification of customer design files
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams/SharePoint
• Project Management certification
• Knowledge of formal project management methods and project management software
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• SolidWorks 3D CAD Experience at a professional level
• Mold-making background
• Scientific molding experience
• Good working knowledge of mold-filling analysis
• Product Design Experience
• 6+ years’ experience in injection molding, tooling, and engineering.