Tooling Engineer/Project Manager

Michael Page; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 102,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Michael Page is recruiting for a Tool Engineer / Project Manager for a U.S.-based injection molding manufacturer in Akron, Ohio. The role blends mold engineering with end-to-end project management for new and existing customer programs, acting as the primary technical liaison between customers, suppliers and internal teams to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery meeting quality standards.

You will oversee mold design, tooling procurement, APQP activities, engineering changes, and program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 6 years in tooling engineering, mold making, or mold design in plastics injection molding.
• Strong knowledge of injection mold design, mold construction, materials, equipment, and molding processes.
• Experience with 3D CAD and SolidWorks preferred.
• Hands-on Mold Flow Analysis (MFA) experience.
• Proven ability to manage projects from concept to production launches with budget and risk management.
• Familiarity with formal PM methodologies and software; PMP preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate manufacturability, tooling risks, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Review and approve injection mold designs to meet requirements.
• Schedule and lead project review meetings with milestones.
• Collaborate with tooling suppliers through production release.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support program launches.
• Serve as primary contact for customers and suppliers.
• Use ERP, APQP, and PM systems to track status and schedules.
• Develop quotations, cost analyses, budgets, and subcontractor estimates.
• Manage project financials, including budget, forecasting, and profitability.
• Monitor scope changes, communicate impacts, and resolve issues.
• Coordinate engineering changes and customer-driven modifications.
• Create and maintain project documentation and files.
• Ensure tooling program readiness: mold qualifications, trials, validation, first article.
• Coordinate procurement activities and supplier engagements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives as required.

Skills

Tooling engineering

Mold design

Project management

PMP (or equivalent)

SolidWorks

MFA analysis

3D CAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ERP systems

APQP processes

Job description

This Tool Engineer / Project Manager role combines injection mold engineering expertise with end-to-end project management responsibility for new and existing customer programs. The position serves as the primary technical liaison between customers, suppliers, and internal teams, overseeing mold design, procurement, qualification, APQP activities, engineering changes, and project execution to ensure programs are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality requirements.

Client Details

Our client is a privately held U.S.-based manufacturer specializes in custom injection molding and full-service contract manufacturing for OEM customers across a wide range of industries, including medical devices, industrial equipment, automotive components, electronics, and automation systems. The company is known for its engineering expertise, ISO 9001-certified quality standards, comprehensive production capabilities-from design and tooling through molding, assembly, finishing, and testing-and its commitment to delivering complex manufacturing solutions that improve customer efficiency, quality, and speed to market.

Description

• Evaluate customer products and part designs to identify manufacturability concerns, tooling risks, cost-reduction opportunities, and methods to improve quality and shorten lead times.
• Review and approve injection mold designs to ensure compliance with customer requirements, engineering specifications, and internal design standards.
• Schedule, facilitate, and lead project review meetings while maintaining overall oversight of project activities, deliverables, and milestones.
• Collaborate with tooling suppliers to manage the design, development, modification, and approval of injection molds, from concept through production release.
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and administrative teams to support operational objectives and successful program launches.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and suppliers, ensuring project deadlines, quality expectations, and performance objectives are consistently achieved.
• Utilize ERP, APQP, and project management systems to communicate project status, track progress, and maintain detailed project schedules and timelines.
• Develop customer quotations, cost analyses, tooling budgets, and subcontractor estimates for new tooling programs and tooling transfers.
• Manage project financial performance, including budget tracking, cost control, forecasting, and profitability analysis.
• Monitor and control project scope changes, ensuring schedule impacts, costs, and risks are appropriately documented, communicated, and resolved.
• Proactively identify project risks and issues, develop mitigation plans, resolve competing priorities, and escalation concerns when necessary.
• Coordinate all aspects of engineering changes and customer-driven modifications, including impacts to cost, quality, timing, and delivery commitments.
• Create and maintain project documentation, order entry records, and electronic project files throughout the program lifecycle.
• Ensure successful completion of tooling programs, including mold qualifications, tryouts, validation activities, and first article inspections.
• Coordinate procurement activities, supplier engagements, raw material requirements, and outside services to support project schedules and delivery commitments.
• Support additional engineering, project management, and continuous improvement initiatives as required.

Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent experience in mold making, mold design, or tooling engineering may be considered.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in tooling engineering, mold making, or mold design within the plastics injection molding industry; alternatively, a relevant engineering degree and 3+ years of applicable experience.
• Strong knowledge of injection mold design, mold construction, thermoplastic and engineered resin materials, injection molding equipment, and molding processes.
• Experience using 3D CAD software for product and tooling design, with SolidWorks experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience performing and interpreting Mold Flow Analysis (MFA) to support tooling and process development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical projects from concept through production launch, including schedule, budget, and risk management responsibilities.
• Familiarity with formal project management methodologies and project management software preferred.
• Project Management certification (PMP or equivalent) preferred.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional internal teams.
• Strong understanding of quality principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and manufacturing best practices.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality products, minimizing waste and production defects, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and drive projects to successful completion with minimal supervision.

Job Offer

• Salary up to roughly $120k depending on experience
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• And More!

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.