Toolroom Manager / Lead Toolmaker

Pinewood Tool; Menomonee Falls (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinewood Tool is a precision machine shop in Wisconsin seeking a hands-on Toolroom Manager / Lead Toolmaker. You will work on the shop floor alongside machinists, handling difficult setups, improving throughput, and maintaining high quality while shaping the shop's future growth.

You will collaborate with ownership on quotes, scheduling, supplier coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives to drive craftsmanship and responsive service.

Qualifications

• 15+ years machining precision tooling or complex components.
• Strong toolmaker background and leadership experience.
• Expert CNC setup experience and GD&T proficiency.
• Experience with milling, turning, grinding, and EDM.
• Comfortable interacting directly with customers and pursuing improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of skilled machinists and toolmakers.
• Coordinate daily production priorities and maximize machine utilisation.
• Perform complex CNC setups and troubleshoot machining problems.
• Review prints, GD&T, and manufacturing methods; support programming.
• Assist with quoting, scheduling, supplier coordination, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain exceptional quality and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Machining leadership

CNC setup expertise

GD&T proficiency

Toolmaker background

Experience leading machinists

Customer interaction

Continuous improvement mindset

Tools

Mastercam

Job description

Lead a high-precision machining team producing tooling components, wear parts, fixtures, and complex machined components for demanding manufacturers.

About Pinewood Tool

Lead a high-precision machining team producing tooling components, wear parts, fixtures, and complex machined components for demanding manufacturers.

Pinewood Tool is a precision machine shop serving manufacturers that demand exceptional quality, responsive service, and tight tolerances.

We specialize in precision tooling components, wear and perishable tooling, and complex machined components. Our work includes CNC milling, CNC turning, grinding, EDM, and close collaboration with customers to solve difficult manufacturing problems.

We are looking for someone who enjoys leading from the front - someone who can mentor machinists, solve challenging machining problems, and continuously improve the performance of the shop.

As Toolroom Manager / Lead Toolmaker you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of our precision machine shop.

This is a hands-on leadership role - not an office management position. You will spend time on the shop floor working alongside our machinists, supporting difficult setups and machining challenges, improving throughput, maintaining quality standards, coordinating priorities, and ensuring work moves efficiently through the shop.

You will also work closely with ownership on quoting, scheduling, supplier coordination, continuous improvement, and helping shape the future growth of Pinewood Tool.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of skilled machinists and toolmakers
• Foster a culture of craftsmanship, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Coach machinists on setups, tooling, workholding, and machining strategy
• Develop less experienced machinists

Operations

• Coordinate daily production priorities
• Maximize machine utilisation while maintaining quality
• Remove production bottlenecks and improve workflow
• Ensure work moves efficiently through the shop

Technical

• Perform complex CNC setups and machining when needed
• Troubleshoot challenging machining problems
• Review prints, GD&T, and manufacturing methods
• Support programming and machining strategy

Quality

• Maintain exceptional quality standards
• Support inspection and root cause analysis
• Drive corrective actions

Business Support

• Assist with quoting and estimating
• Coordinate outside processing and suppliers
• Manage tooling and supplier relationships
• Support scheduling and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• 15+ years machining precision tooling or complex components
• Strong toolmaker background
• Experience leading machinists
• Expert CNC setup experience
• Strong understanding of GD&T
• Experience with milling, turning, grinding, and EDM
• Ability to solve difficult machining problems
• Comfortable interacting directly with customers
• Continuous improvement mindset
• High standards of quality and craftsmanship

Preferred Qualifications

• Mastercam experience
• Quoting and estimating experience
• Job shop experience
• Experience with molds, dies, fixtures, or precision tooling
• Familiarity with heat treatment and precision grindingLean manufacturing experience

Why Join Pinewood Tool

You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of a growing precision machine shop where technical excellence matters. This role offers significant autonomy and the chance to make a lasting impact on our operations, team, and customer relationships.