Apprentice Developer Jobs in Lancaster, PA (NOW HIRING)

Since 1982, Sigma Engineered Solutions has been on an incredible journey. We started with just one plant in India and have expanded to 13 locations around the world. What began as a cost-effective supplier of low-voltage electrical products has grown into a global solutions provider of highly engineered, complex metal components, including machined parts and precision metal stampings.

At Sigma Engineered Solutions “your success is our mission.” It’s a promise we live by daily and it defines everything we do whether you are a team member or customer.

The Tool & Die Maker completes all assignments related to constructing, modifying, and conditioning multi-station metalworking dies. Fabricates new gauges, cutting and forming tools, and fixtures by applying comprehensive knowledge of tool and die design, machining, layout, assembly, and conditioning procedures.

What you will be doing:

Layout and Planning

• Lay out work assignments of all complexity levels using verbal instructions, rough sketches, tooling, and product prints.
• Visualize the completed product and determine required layout steps.

Measurement, Marking & Calculation

• Compute dimensions and establish reference points, centerlines, and guidelines on tooling and product components.
• Measure, mark, and scribe metal stock for machining with accuracy and precision.

Machining Operations

• Determine necessary machining operations and perform machine setup.
• Operate machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders to machine parts.
• Verify conformance of machined parts to required specifications.

Assembly, Fitting & Finishing

• Fit and assemble component parts into completed units or mechanisms.
• Verify dimensions, alignment, and clearance of assembled parts.
• Perform filing, stoning, grinding, scraping, and blending operations to ensure proper fit.
• Use shims as needed to correct alignment or compensate for tolerance variations.

Die Setup, Testing & Inspection

• Set dies in presses and perform trial operations to validate clearance, pressure performance, and ensure no binding occurs.
• Inspect completed stamped parts to ensure adherence to engineering specifications.

Troubleshooting & Corrective Adjustments

• Analyze and correct complex tool malfunctions in newly constructed or modified dies.
• Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances, and make adjustments or corrections to eliminate tolerance deviations in stamped products.

Tooling & Design Improvement

• Recommend tooling design improvements—under engineering approval—to enhance tool life, product quality, production output, and to eliminate design-related issues.
• Condition dies to prevent breakage of small or intricate tooling components.

Tools & Equipment Use

• Utilize toolmakers’ hand tools and all related hand tools safely and effectively.
• Operate precision measuring instruments including height gages, gage blocks, comparators, dial indicators, toolmakers’ microscopes, and micrometers to ensure parts meet specification and die stations are correctly aligned.

Heat-Treating Processes

• Perform heat-treating procedures including hardening, stress relieving, and annealing tool steel.
• Case-harden machine steel as necessary.

Training & Mentorship

• Provide instruction and training to apprentices, trainees, and employees in lower classifications as required.

Other duties:

• Follow safe work practices and keep the work area clean and organized.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Follow documented policies and procedures as designated by the company’s Employee Handbook and Local Work Rules. In addition, adhere to the proper Code of Conduct while on company property.

What you will bring to the team:

• Completion of a state-recognized Tool & Die Maker Apprenticeship
  (Typically 8,000 hours of on-the-job training + 576 hours of related classroom instruction.)
• Tool & Die Maker Journeyman Certification / Paper
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability
• Proficiency with machining and precision measurement tools. Examples: lathes, mills, grinders, micrometers, height gauges, comparators, indicators.

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information:

At Sigma Engineered Solutions our vision is to be the global partner of choice by exceeding customer expectations. Our team members are essential to our customers success, and we look for these qualities when adding members to our team:

• exemplary honesty and integrity
• customer focused
• strive for continuous improvement in all they do
• are courageous and trustworthy
• are committed to teamwork
• are socially and environmentally responsible
• act proactively in the best interest of all stakeholders

If you share these qualities and you feel your background is not a perfect fit for a job, we encourage you to apply! Your background may have a telling story that makes you a better fit than you realize.

We are hard at work to make sure our people are taken care of and our benefits meet their needs. What does this look like?

• Competitive pay
• Health coverage
• Paid time off allowances
• Employee Assistance Program