Tooling Manager: Mold Shop Lead for Production

Sterling Engineering; Lincolnshire (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Lincolnshire, IL seeks an experienced Tooling Manager to lead the tool shop, oversee injection molds, maintenance, and tooling improvements. You will guide prototyping through production, drive reliability, and collaborate with engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams on tooling projects.

The role requires hands-on leadership on the factory floor, strong mold-making knowledge, and the ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in mold design or tool room operations.
• Strong leadership managing a machine shop or tool room.
• Injection mold/mold-making experience preferred.
• CNC tool room machining knowledge.
• Ability to read mold designs and identify tooling improvements.
• Solid problem-solving and mechanical skills.
• Experience leading/mentoring technical staff.
• Familiar with mold-making processes, FAI/PPAP, tooling releases.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering/manufacturing/quality.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tooling projects in production.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as Pro/E, NX, or SolidWorks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day tool shop operations including production tooling, injections molds, repairs and maintenance.
• Manage tooling projects from prototype through production.
• Oversee production molds to meet quality, cost, and schedule targets.
• Lead mold repairs, tooling improvements, and engineering changes.
• Establish preventive maintenance for production molds and tooling.
• Improve manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment per product needs.
• Analyze tooling processes to improve efficiency, quality, and throughput.
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting for tooling issues.
• Lead, train and mentor tool room personnel with safety and quality focus.
• Implement quality and safety improvements and ensure procedures are followed.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities and collaborate with stakeholders.

Tools

Pro/E

NX

SolidWorks

Job description

Sterling Engineering in Lincolnshire, IL seeks an experienced Tooling Manager to lead the tool shop, oversee injection molds, maintenance, and tooling improvements. You will guide prototyping through production, drive reliability, and collaborate with engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams on tooling projects.

The role requires hands-on leadership on the factory floor, strong mold-making knowledge, and the ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining safety and quality standards.