Toolmaker - Skilled Trade Machinist (2nd Shift)

Molex; Little Falls (MN); On-site; USD 28,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Molex Aerospace & Defense Solutions (ADS) in Little Falls, MN seeks a Toolmaker – Skilled Trade Machinist for the 2nd shift. You will build, repair, modify, and maintain precision tooling and components, using manual and CNC equipment from technical drawings to support aerospace manufacturing.

Join a team focused on safety, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement, working with Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure tooling reliability and production performance.

Qualifications

• Experience as Toolmaker or Machinist in a skilled-trades setting.
• Reading engineering drawings and dimensional specifications.
• Experience setting up manual milling, lathe, and grinder equipment.
• Proficient with precision measurement tools and inspection.

Responsibilities

• Build, repair, modify, and maintain precision tooling and dies.
• Set up and operate mills, lathes, grinders, and drill presses.
• Use CNC equipment to manufacture or repair components as needed.
• Read drawings, GD&T, and specifications for accuracy.
• Inspect finished work with micrometers, calipers, and height gauges.
• Diagnose tooling issues and perform repairs or replacements.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Maintenance.
• Support preventative maintenance and continuous improvement.

Skills

Toolmaking

Machining setup

Reading drawings

Precision measurement

Troubleshooting

Education

Technical diploma/Apprenticeship

Tools

CNC setup/operation

EDM

Surface grinding

Job description

Toolmaker - Skilled Trade Machinist (2nd Shift)

Join the Molex Aerospace & Defense Solutions (ADS) manufacturing team as a Toolmaker – Skilled Trade Machinist in Little Falls, MN. In this role, you will use your machining and toolmaking expertise to build, repair, modify, and maintain precision tooling and components that support our manufacturing operations.

You will work from technical drawings, specifications, and existing tooling to produce highly accurate parts while troubleshooting tooling issues and partnering with production and engineering to keep equipment and processes running safely, efficiently, and reliably.

Our Team

You will be part of a skilled manufacturing team supporting precision production for aerospace and defense applications. You will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other skilled trades to support production requirements, resolve tooling challenges, and improve manufacturing performance.

Our team values safety, craftsmanship, precision, problem solving, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What You Will Do

• Build, repair, modify, and maintain precision tooling, dies, fixtures, gauges, and machine components used in manufacturing operations.
• Set up and operate manual machining equipment such as mills, lathes, grinders, drill presses, and other toolroom equipment.
• Use CNC machining equipment as required to manufacture or repair precision components.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, sketches, GD&T, and technical specifications.
• Perform precision machining operations while maintaining required dimensional tolerances and surface finishes.
• Use micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gauges, comparators, and other precision measuring equipment to inspect completed work.
• Diagnose tooling and equipment issues and determine appropriate repairs, modifications, or replacement components.
• Perform fitting, assembly, adjustment, and troubleshooting of tooling to support reliable production performance.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Maintenance to troubleshoot manufacturing problems and implement effective solutions.
• Support preventative maintenance and continuous improvement efforts that improve tooling performance, equipment reliability, quality, and productivity.
• Maintain accurate documentation and follow established safety, quality, and manufacturing procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe toolroom and work environment.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Experience as a Toolmaker, Machinist, Tool & Die Maker, or in a similar skilled-trades machining role.
• Experience setting up and operating manual machining equipment such as mills, lathes, and grinders.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, blueprints, and dimensional specifications.
• Experience using precision measurement and inspection equipment.
• Working knowledge of machining practices, tooling, materials, feeds and speeds, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and tooling problems and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements associated with a manufacturing and toolroom environment.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Technical diploma, apprenticeship, journeyman training, or equivalent education in machining, tool and die, mold making, or a related skilled trade.
• Experience building, repairing, or maintaining stamping dies, molds, fixtures, or other precision production tooling.
• CNC setup, operation, and/or programming experience.
• Experience with EDM, surface grinding, precision grinding, or other advanced toolroom equipment.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and tight-tolerance machining.
• Experience troubleshooting tooling in a high-volume or high-precision manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, electronics, connector, medical device, or other highly regulated precision-manufacturing operations.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methods.

For this role, we anticipate paying $20 - $39 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .

Who We Are

Aerospace & Defense Solutions (ADS)

Molex's Aerospace & Defense Solutions (ADS) Division delivers mission-critical connectivity, signal technologies, and electronic solutions designed for the most demanding environments. Drawing on decades of engineering excellence and innovation, we support aerospace, defense, space, and other high-reliability markets where performance is essential and failure is not an option.

From enabling next-generation communications and data transfer to providing rugged interconnect and electronic solutions for mission-critical systems, our technologies help customers advance capabilities across air, land, sea, and space. At ADS, we combine deep technical expertise, operational excellence, and a culture of principled entrepreneurship to create value for our customers, communities, and one another.

Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense through innovation, reliability, and purpose-driven solutions.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).

In order to comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, this position requires applicants to either provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status or be eligible to receive an export authorization (a license) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations.