Tooling Technician Levels II (Intermediate), and III (Advanced /Tool Maker)

Iroquois Industrial Group

Illinois

On-site

USD 23,419 - 52,348

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

T&D Metal Products in Watseka, IL is seeking a skilled Tooling Technician to support production by maintaining dies, drilling, milling, and tool room upkeep. The role involves die changes, safety adherence, and collaboration with maintenance teams to ensure seamless operation.

This full-time position offers hourly pay from $17.00 to $38.00, night shift availability, and benefits. Tier I-III advancement opportunities exist as part of our skilled tooling program.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Experience with dies, repair, and die changes preferred.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work with team.
Willingness to work night shift and follow safety rules.

Responsibilities

Assist tool room staff in maintaining dies and tooling.
Operate drill presses, mills, grinders, lathes, and saws to upkeep tooling.
Follow supervisor directions and safety procedures.
Maintain inventory of die components and spare parts.

Skills

Tooling maintenance

Teamwork

Safety procedures

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Drill press

Milling machine

Grinder

Lathe

Saw

Job description

Company Overview:

We are a leading metal manufacturing company committed to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Join our dynamic team and contribute to our mission of delivering top-notch metal products to our customers

Position Mission:

Support production by maintaining dies, machining parts, performing day-to-day operations in the tool room. Perform required Production machining and drilling operations as directed by supervisor.

Works with Die maintenance/repair and production teams to follow company designated processes to perform upkeep and maintenance in an exemplary manner according to company standards.

Tier Program Overview & Advancement Requirements

Our tier program is designed to support employee development, recognize skill progression, and ensure consistency in performance expectations. Each tier reflects a combination of experience, training, job knowledge, and overall contribution to the team.

Pay Range:

Tier I: $18.00 - $21.63
Tier II: $22.00-$25.24
Tier III: $25.50 - $38.00

Tier Structure & Advancement Requirements:

Tier I - Essential Roles and Responsibilities Overview:

To successfully advance within this tier, employees should demonstrate the following skills and competencies, either independently or with guidance as noted:

Assist tool room techs in keeping a clean and safe work area.
Clean and help in organizing the tool room by sweeping floors daily, maintaining all equipment by checking oil levels of all equipment.
Effectively communicate with coworkers and management personnel to enhance teamwork.
Follow directions of the tool room supervisor and all maintenance techs to operate all equipment in a safe manner.
Identify potential safety issues and take appropriate action.
Maintain proper inventory of all die components, spare parts, and changeover parts. Ensure all are properly labeled and stored.
Operate a variety of machines including drill presses, mills, grinders, lathes, saws, and all tool room equipment to maintain upkeep of all new and existing tooling to company standards.
Follow instructions to perform tasks needed to repair the dies. Sharpen and shim prep backup blocks, clean and examine all tools for wear, cracks, and tool life per company standards.
Requires direction, responds to, and seeks direction whenever needed to gain knowledge and skill.

Plus, the Skills Expected of All Tooling Technicians:

Properly tag all tools and bring to the tooling supervisor's attention any preventive maintenance to be performed on tooling.
Effectively use lockout/tag out, safety blocks, and interlock procedures.
Identify potential safety issues and take appropriate action.
Effectively communicate with coworkers and management personnel to enhance teamwork.

Qualifications & Experience:

Have served in high school vocational training for machining or welding, has undergone some level of formal apprenticeship or has a machining background.
Physical dexterity; figure aptitude; ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
Work well as a team member.
Qualified candidates have previous experience making, repairing, and troubleshooting dies, and proven ability to work with progressive or transfer dies for advancement within the tier.

Tier II - Developing Technician:

To advance to Tier II, employees must demonstrate full independence in all Tier I competencies and begin to take on more technical responsibilities. The following skills are required for Tier II:

Apply continuous improvement concepts to improve tooling such as remarking worn-out components, simplifying the dies, and ensuring backup tooling is made for large run quantities.
Basic and gaining knowledge of all transfer dies, compound and progressive dies.
Basic knowledge and gaining ability to weld tool steel die blocks and punches.
Basic knowledge and gaining understanding of all turret tooling.
Desire to mentor and lead other repair/maintenance techs. Guiding and giving instructions to Tech I’s.
Effectively communicate with coworkers and management personnel to enhance teamwork.
Identify potential safety issues and take appropriate action.
Install sensors/die protection.
Maintain proper inventory of all die components, ensure spare parts and changeover parts are properly labeled and stored.
Properly tag all tools and bring to the tooling supervisor's attention any preventive maintenance to be performed on tooling.
Properly use lockout/tag out, safety blocks, and interlock procedures.
Requires minimal direction, often directs others within the function.
Troubleshoot die, feed, sensor, and any other related problems in the press during production.

Plus, Skills Expected of Tooling Technician:

Alter the proper components to ensure proper die operation to produce optimal parts.
Ability to produce welding fixtures, jigs, and replacement of worn and damaged tooling.
Knowledge of all transfer dies, compound and progressive dies.
Operate a variety of machines including drill presses, mills, grinders, lathes, saws, and all tool room equipment to maintain upkeep of all new and existing tooling to company standards.
Perform tasks needed to repair dies. Sharpen and shim prep backup blocks, clean and examine all tools for wear, cracks, and tool life per company standards.
Verify proper die clearance and timing to ensure optimal performance.
Properly tag all tools and bring to the tooling supervisor's attention any preventive maintenance to be performed on tooling.
Properly use lockout/tag out, safety blocks, and interlock procedures.

Qualifications:

3-6 years or more in tool and die trade.
Physical dexterity; figure aptitude; ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
Work well as a team member and lead other Die Techs.
Qualified candidates have previous experience making, repairing, and troubleshooting dies, and proven ability to work with progressive or transfer dies.

Tier III - Advanced Technician (Tool Maker):

Tier III represents the highest level within the current tier program. Employees at this level demonstrate strong technical expertise, precision, and independence in their role. Advancement to this tier requires consistent performance and mastery of all Tier I and Tier II competencies, along with the following:

Primary Responsibilities:

Ability and strong desire to mentor and lead other repair/maintenance techs. Guiding and giving instructions to improve the entire team.
Ability to take over and run the function in the absence of the Tool Room Supervisor.
Ability to weld tool steel die blocks and punches.
Advanced troubleshooting dies, feed, sensor, and any other related problems in the press during production.
Requires little to no direction, proactively directs others within the function.
Understanding of all turret tooling.
Work with quality to discern and document die changeover instructions to ensure proper changeover occurs.
Apply continuous improvement concepts to improve tooling such as remarking worn-out components, simplifying the dies, and ensuring backup tooling is made for large run quantities.
Alter the proper components to ensure proper die operation to produce optimal parts.
Ability to produce welding fixtures, jigs, and replacement of worn and damaged tooling.
Knowledge of all transfer dies, compound and progressive dies.
Operate a variety of machines including drill presses, mills, grinders, lathes, saws, and all tool room equipment to maintain upkeep of all new and existing tooling to company standards.
Maintain proper inventory of all die components, ensure spare parts and changeover parts are properly labeled and stored.
Perform tasks needed to repair dies. Sharpen and shim prep backup blocks, clean and examine all tools for wear, cracks, and tool life per company standards.
Verify proper die clearance and timing to ensure optimal performance.
Properly tag all tools and bring to the tooling supervisor's attention any preventive maintenance to be performed on tooling.
Properly use lockout/tag out, safety blocks, and interlock procedures.
Identify potential safety issues and take appropriate action.
Effectively communicate with coworkers and management personnel to enhance teamwork.

Qualifications:

Minimum 10 years plus experience in the Tool / Die trade.
Proven ability to lead others.
Physical dexterity; figure aptitude; ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
Work well as a team member and lead other Die Techs.
Qualified candidates have previous experience making, repairing, and advanced troubleshooting of dies, and proven ability to work with progressive or transfer dies.

Benefits Overview:

Competitive pay based on experience
Health Insurance
Dental and Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off and Paid Company Holidays
Employer Paid Basic Life Insurance
Voluntary Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Child(ren)
401(k) with Company Match
Employer Paid Short Term and Long Disability Insurance

T&D Metal Products is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.00 - $38.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits: