Associate Manager, Tooling and Process Engineering

Key Responsibilities

Tooling Leadership & Mold Management

• Own the complete lifecycle of injection molds, including design reviews, sourcing, validation, launch, preventive maintenance, and refurbishment
• Establish and maintain mold PM standards, spare parts strategies, and tooling documentation
• Partner with tool shops and mold suppliers to ensure quality, timing, and cost targets are met
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for mold-related downtime, quality issues, or performance gaps
• Approve mold modifications and engineering changes to improve reliability, cycle time, and part quality

Process Engineering & Optimization

• Develop, standardize, and approve robust injection molding processes (Scientific / Decoupled Molding preferred)
• Lead process development for new product launches including DOE, mold trials, and validation
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for scrap reduction, cycle-time optimization, and process stability
• Ensure documented process standards and setup sheets are controlled and followed
• Serve as escalation point for complex molding and processing issues

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage and mentor Tooling Technicians, Process Technicians, and Process Engineers
• Set performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create skill development plans
• Build bench strength through training, cross-functional exposure, and succession planning
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Production, and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues
• Support audits, customer visits, and technical reviews as the senior molding expert
• Provide technical input to capital projects, automation, and equipment selection
• Support ISO, regulatory, and customer-specific compliance activities

Metrics & Accountability

• Improve mold uptime, scrap rates, and process capability (Cp/Cpk)
• Reduce startup, changeover, and launch inefficiencies
• Ensure new tools and processes meet performance and delivery expectations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of injection molding experience including tooling and process engineering
• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• Expert knowledge of mold design, thermoplastics processing, and scientific molding principles
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills

Preferred Qualifications

• RJG Master Molder certification or equivalent
• Experience with automated or high-cavitation molding environments
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification
• ERP or MES experience related to tooling and process control

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, heat, and moving equipment. Occasional travel to tool shops, suppliers, or customers. Off-shift support may be require