Tooling Engineering Manager

The Davis Companies Inc.; Leominster (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Davis Companies Inc. is seeking a hands-on Tooling Engineering Manager to lead our tooling and mold-making operations in a manufacturing environment.

This leadership role keeps you close to mold construction, repair, and optimization while guiding a small team to meet production needs. You will drive continuous improvement, troubleshoot complex tooling issues, manage preventive maintenance, and bring outsourced work in-house.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of mould making, tool & die, tooling engineering, or injection moulding tooling experience.
• Strong hands-on experience building, repairing, and troubleshooting injection moulds.
• Experience with CNC machining, EDM, milling, grinding, and precision machining.
• Knowledge of mould construction, maintenance, and tooling systems.
• Ability to diagnose tooling issues and perform repairs.
• Blueprint reading and GD&T proficiency.
• Previous leadership or mentoring experience.
• Desire to remain hands-on in daily tool room operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example through active participation in mold construction, repair, modification, and maintenance.
• Personally troubleshoot complex mold and tooling issues and implement corrective actions.
• Operate and support tool room equipment as needed.
• Drive initiatives to bring outsourced mold‑making and repair work back in‑house.
• Provide technical expertise to support injection moulding production and manufacturing operations.
• Lead and mentor a small team of tooling technicians and mould makers.
• Assign priorities and manage workloads to support production schedules.
• Develop technical talent through coaching and hands‑on training.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Hands-on molding

Root cause analysis

Troubleshooting

Safety culture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CNC machining

EDM

Milling

Grinding

Precision machining

Job description

A growing manufacturing company is seeking a highly skilled and hands‑on Tooling Engineering Manager to lead its tooling and mold‑making operations. This is a leadership role for someone who still enjoys working directly on molds and tooling rather than managing strictly from an office.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience building, repairing, troubleshooting, and maintaining injection molds and will play a key role in bringing more mold work in‑house while reducing reliance on outside vendors. This individual will lead a small team of tooling professionals while remaining actively involved in day‑to‑day tool room activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead by example through active participation in mold construction, repair, modification, and maintenance.
• Personally troubleshoot complex mold and tooling issues and implement corrective actions.
• Operate and support tool room equipment as needed.
• Drive initiatives to bring outsourced mold‑making and repair work back in‑house.
• Provide technical expertise to support injection moulding production and manufacturing operations.
• Lead and mentor a small team of tooling technicians and mould makers.
• Assign priorities and manage workloads to support production schedules.
• Develop technical talent through coaching and hands‑on training.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.

Tooling Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Manage preventive maintenance programs for moulds and tooling assets.
• Monitor tooling performance, downtime, repair activity, and mould life.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for tooling‑related issues.
• Improve tooling reliability, productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Track MRO activities and tooling work orders.

New Tooling & Manufacturing Support

• Participate in mould design reviews and DFM activities.
• Support new product introductions and tooling validation efforts.
• Manage tooling projects, supplier relationships, and external tooling resources when required.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Manufacturing teams to support growth initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of mould making, tool & die, tooling engineering, or injection moulding tooling experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience building, repairing, and troubleshooting injection moulds.
• Experience working directly with CNC machining, EDM, milling, grinding, and precision machining processes.
• Strong understanding of mould construction, maintenance, and tooling systems.
• Ability to diagnose tooling issues, identify root causes, and perform repairs.
• Blueprint reading and GD&T proficiency.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or mentoring experience.
• Desire to remain hands‑on in daily tool room operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Plastics, or a related field.
• Experience in plastics manufacturing, medical device, life sciences, or other regulated industries.
• Familiarity with CAD software and tooling design.
• Experience using ERP, MRP, or CMMS systems.

What They're Really Looking For

This is not a manager‑only role. The hiring team is specifically seeking someone who can:

• Build and repair moulds themselves.
• Troubleshoot tooling issues without relying on outside vendors.
• Work side‑by‑side with the tool room team.
• Be the technical expert for tooling and mould‑making operations.
• Develop internal tooling capabilities and reduce outsourced work.

Ideal backgrounds: Senior Mold Maker, Tool Room Manager, Tool & Die Manager, Tooling Manager, Lead Mold Maker, Tooling Engineer, Mold Engineering Manager, or a highly technical Tool Room Supervisor ready for a broader leadership role.