Tool Prep Technician

Description:

If you take pride in precision… If you believe tooling is the heartbeat of production… If you know that a thousandth of an inch matters…

PinnPACK Columbus is looking for a skilled Tooling Technician who thrives in a hands-on, high-performance manufacturing environment.

This isn’t a bench mechanic role. This is precision thermoforming tooling — where your craftsmanship directly impacts uptime, product quality, and customer satisfaction.

Why PinnPACK?

We are a growing food-grade plastic packaging manufacturer serving major customers across the country. Our Columbus facility is investing in equipment, talent, and operational excellence — and tooling is a critical part of that strategy.

At PinnPACK, your work is visible. Your impact is measurable. Your expertise matters.

What You’ll Do

• Perform mold maintenance, repair, and changeovers with precision and urgency
• Execute CNC machining, polishing, assembly, and tooling preparation
• Inspect molds for dimensional accuracy and wear
• Support preventative and corrective maintenance programs
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, and Maintenance to maximize uptime
• Maintain detailed and accurate tooling documentation
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in tooling performance

Attention to detail is not optional in this role — it is essential. The right candidate understands that precision tooling drives efficiency, quality, and safety.

What We’re Looking For

• 3–5+ years of thermoforming experience
• Strong hands-on tooling and machining background
• CNC programming and machining knowledge
• High level of mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability
• Strong sense of ownership, urgency, and accountability
• Exceptional attention to detail

Why Columbus, Ohio?

Columbus is one of the fastest-growing manufacturing hubs in the Midwest — affordable cost of living, strong industrial base, and opportunity for long-term career growth.

If you’re ready to work in an environment where your precision skills are valued and your work directly supports plant performance — we want to talk.

Apply today or send your resume directly. PpackOhio@pinnpack.com

Position Summary

Provide hands-on technical support to ensure tooling reliability, employee safety, and the attainment of production and quality goals. This role is responsible for mold maintenance, repair, preparation, and tooling improvements within a thermoforming manufacturing environment.

This position requires strong practical knowledge of thermoforming processes and tooling principles, along with a high level of precision and attention to detail. Accuracy in machining, assembly, documentation, and verification is critical to minimizing downtime, scrap, and quality defects. Collaboration with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and Quality is essential to achieving plant objectives in safety, uptime, and product performance.

Requirements:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

An employee in this position may be called upon to perform any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all duties which may be assigned.

1. Follow and support all applicable safety requirements and company policies.
2. Perform CNC programming, machining, polishing, assembly, and preparation of molds and tooling with a high degree of precision.
3. Complete mold repairs, modifications, and changeovers accurately and within required timelines.
4. Inspect molds and tooling components for wear, damage, and dimensional accuracy.
5. Coordinate tooling activities with internal departments and external vendors.
6. Submit purchase requests for tooling supplies including cutting tools, end mills, drills, and grinding wheels.
7. Maintain tool room organization, cleanliness, and equipment in proper working condition.
8. Provide accurate timelines and status updates for tooling work.
9. Coordinate shipment or transfer of molds to other sites or outside vendors.
10. Maintain detailed and accurate tooling records, logs, and documentation.
11. Perform preventative maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance on molds.
12. Assist in tooling verification and quality checks to ensure specifications are met.
13. Support tooling inventory control and continuous improvement initiatives.
14. Follow established procedures and documentation standards.
15. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure safe and efficient equipment performance.
16. Assist in training team members on tooling best practices as needed.

Work Relationships

Works With: Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and external tooling suppliers.

Reports To: Sr. Director of Manufacturing Technology & Improvement

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must:

• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent (technical training preferred).
• Have 3–5+ years of thermoforming experience.
• Have experience in thermoforming tooling maintenance and repair.
• Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and precision in machining, assembly, and documentation.
• Possess strong troubleshooting and mechanical aptitude.
• Have working knowledge of CNC programming and machining principles.
• Demonstrate urgency, accountability, and ownership.
• Communicate effectively in a manufacturing environment.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

This position may require:

• YES – Driving of cars, trucks, forklifts, or other equipment
• YES – Exposure to dust
• YES – Working at heights
• NO – Operation of foot controls or repetitive foot movement
• YES – Use of special visual or auditory protective equipment