Tooling Engineering Lead: Molds & Toolroom

Sterling Engineering, Inc.; Bolingbrook (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering, Inc. in Bolingbrook, IL seeks an experienced Tooling Manager to lead its Tooling Engineering and Toolroom teams in a high-precision manufacturing environment. You will oversee design, development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of molds and tooling.

The role demands hands-on mold/tooling expertise, strong leadership, 3D CAD skills, and a track record of reducing costs and improving quality, safety, and delivery through rigorous problem solving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical/related engineering.
• Experience leading Tooling Engineering and/or Toolroom operations.
• Strong knowledge of mold design and tooling development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Tooling Engineering and Toolroom teams, including hiring and mentoring.
• Manage tooling projects supporting mold design, manufacturing equipment, automation, and new product development.
• Lead tooling development, tooling improvements, repairs, preventive maintenance, and emergency tooling support.
• Ensure molds and tooling are designed for manufacturability, performance, reliability, and long-term production use.
• Partner with NPD and Engineering teams on design for manufacturability (DFM) and new product launches.
• Maintain tooling documentation, 3D models, assemblies, drawings, specifications, and revision control.
• Develop and manage a visual tooling preventive-maintenance scheduling and tracking system.
• Prioritize tooling maintenance and repair activities based on production requirements.
• Work with outside tooling vendors on repairs, modifications, and outsourced projects.
• Lead tooling-related cost reduction, quality improvement, and mistake-proofing initiatives.
• Drive structured problem solving using root cause analysis, Gage R&R, A/B testing, and statistical analysis.
• Establish and track department and project KPIs.
• Manage projects involving scope, schedule, cost, risk, resources, and change management.
• Support equipment selection, capital expenditures, and installation of new manufacturing equipment.

Skills

Mold tooling

Tooling engineering

Toolroom leadership

3D CAD

Manufacturing problem-solving

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

DFM

NPD collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

3D CAD software

Job description

Sterling Engineering, Inc. in Bolingbrook, IL seeks an experienced Tooling Manager to lead its Tooling Engineering and Toolroom teams in a high-precision manufacturing environment. You will oversee design, development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of molds and tooling.

The role demands hands-on mold/tooling expertise, strong leadership, 3D CAD skills, and a track record of reducing costs and improving quality, safety, and delivery through rigorous problem solving.