Tooling Engineer

Pure Fishing; Illinois; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pure Fishing is seeking a Plastics Tooling Engineer in Illinois to design, develop, and optimize tooling for plastic components used in our products. This onsite role partners with cross-functional teams to improve injection molding, reduce costs, and ensure safe, reliable operations across manufacturing lines.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on CAD experience (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA), strong blueprint-reading skills, and at least 5 years in plastics tooling design, with a proactive,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical/ plastics engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop tooling solutions for plastic parts production.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, R&D, NPD, and quality teams to meet specs.
• Optimize tooling designs through continuous improvement initiatives and changes.
• Drive tooling improvements to increase efficiency, performance, and cut costs.
• Conduct tests to validate tooling performance and identify improvements.
• Provide technical support to troubleshoot tooling issues in production.
• Stay current on plastics tooling trends to drive improvements.
• Coordinate with outsourced tool shops for mold design, fabrication, and testing.

Skills

Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills

Attention to Detail

Mentoring Employees

Project & Time Management

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Plastics Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

CATIA

Job description

As a Plastics Tooling Engineer, you will design, develop, and optimize tooling solutions that support the production of high-quality plastic components. Working in a collaborative, onsite environment, you will partner closely with cross-functional teams to improve injection molding processes, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and support safe, reliable operations. Success in this role requires strong blueprint-reading skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Your contributions will have a direct impact on product quality, manufacturing performance, and continuous improvement throughout the operation.

What will you do:

• Design and develop tooling solutions for plastic parts production, considering factors such as material properties, part design, and production requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, R&D, NPD, and quality teams to ensure tooling meets project specifications and quality standards.
• Optimize existing tooling designs through continuous improvement initiatives and engineering changes to enhance efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Drive improvements to existing tools by implementing engineering changes that increase operational efficiency, improve performance, and reduce costs.
• Conduct tests and evaluations to validate tooling performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide technical support and expertise to troubleshoot tooling issues during production.
• Stay current on industry trends and advancements in plastics tooling technology to drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with outsourced tool shops on mold design, fabrication, and testing to support new product launches and ongoing production needs.

The ideal candidate will have:

• CAD Proficiency: Strong experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks and AutoCAD for designing tools, molds, and fixtures.
• Technical & Manufacturing Knowledge: Ability to read and interpret blueprints and technical drawings, with knowledge of injection molding, CNC machining, casting, and related manufacturing processes.
• Material Expertise: Understanding of tooling materials, including steel, aluminum, and plastics, and their performance in various manufacturing applications.
• Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex technical challenges and develop effective, practical solutions.
• Attention to Detail: Thorough approach to identifying and resolving design, material, and process issues before they impact production.
• Demonstrated passion for developing and mentoring employees, particularly those early in their skilled trades careers, with a strong focus on coaching and supporting direct reports.
• Project & Time Management: Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Additional qualifications that will help you be successful in this role:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Plastics Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in tooling design and development, specifically in plastics manufacturing.
• Proficiency in CATIA software for designing tooling and molds.
• Strong knowledge of injection molding processes and tooling materials.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with internal teams and external vendors.

Travel:

• 10-20% travel may be required to support other company locations, vendors, and suppliers, including occasional international travel.