Freelance Additive Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Michigan

CSP is the industry leader in the formulation and molding of lightweight, advanced composite components for the transportation industries. As an innovative, full-service Tier One supplier, we offer an entrepreneurial environment where you're only limited by your own imagination. In addition to our team-focused environment, we provide industry-leading benefits, called BENEfits4U. Our comprehensive offering includes: affordable medical, dental, and vision care; flexible spending accounts; life insurance; 401k with company match and much, much more.

Job Description

• Establish and own the enterprise-wide standards framework for the Advanced Tooling and Automation department, including equipment standards, design standards, build standards, and maintenance standards.
• Develop, document, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all core department functions, including:

• Tooling quote scope-of-work development
• Tooling lineup planning and structuring
• Cost breakdown methodology and templates
• Vendor selection and evaluation criteria
• Tooling and equipment acceptance/runoff criteria

• Create and maintain a performance governance model - defining how standards are audited, how compliance is measured, and how deviations are escalated and corrected.
• Serve as the final authority on tooling and equipment standards across all sites, ensuring consistency, cost control, and quality.

• Define the standard format and process for tooling quote scope of work, ensuring quotes are complete, comparable across suppliers, and aligned to program requirements.
• Establish standardized tooling lineup structures (e.g., mold sets, fixtures, secondary equipment, automation cells) for consistent program planning.
• Develop standardized cost breakdown structures (material, labor, engineering, controls, freight, contingency, etc.) to improve quote accuracy, cost transparency, and negotiation leverage.
• Own the RFQ process for tooling and capital equipment, ensuring apples-to-apples supplier comparisons.

• Lead design, development, and validation of advanced tooling for composite molds, secondary equipment, and automation systems.
• Oversee tooling readiness for new program launches, ensuring durability, repeatability, and on-time delivery.
• Drive innovation into the tooling portfolio - evaluating new materials, processes, and design methodologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, simulation-driven design, modular/reconfigurable tooling) to improve cost, speed, and performance.

• Develop and implement advanced manufacturing technologies, including automation, robotics, predictive maintenance, and Industry 4.0 tools.
• Lead automation development end-to-end: concept, business case, design, integration, validation, and scale-up to full production.
• Validate new processes and automated systems through pilot lines, ensuring scalability and reliability prior to full deployment.
• Identify and prioritize automation opportunities based on labor efficiency, ergonomics, throughput, and ROI.

• Establish enterprise-wide controls standards (PLC platforms, HMI design, safety architecture, network/communication protocols, naming conventions, documentation standards) to ensure consistency, maintainability, and reduced spare-parts complexity across sites.
• Partner with controls engineering and IT/OT teams to ensure new automation and tooling projects comply with controls standards from concept through commissioning.
• Drive standardization of controls documentation, change management, and cybersecurity practices across all automated systems.

• Partner with suppliers to deliver best-in-class tooling and automation solutions within budget and timing requirements.
• Develop and administer a formal vendor evaluation program - scoring suppliers on quality, cost, delivery, engineering capability, and responsiveness - to guide sourcing decisions and build a preferred supplier base.
• Lead supplier performance reviews and drive corrective action when standards are not met.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, scrap reduction, labor efficiency, and ergonomics.
• Define and deploy enterprise standards for manufacturing layouts, material flow, ergonomics, and process optimization.
• Benchmark industry trends and emerging technologies to keep the enterprise at the forefront of composite manufacturing and automation.

• Work closely with Product Development, Facilities, and Asset Management to align tooling and equipment strategy with long-term business objectives.
• Partner with Finance to validate ROI and payback for capital equipment, tooling, and process investments.
• Collaborate with Quality to ensure advanced manufacturing processes meet customer standards and regulatory requirements.

• Manage budgets for tooling, equipment, and process engineering, including capital expenditures (CapEx).
• Track project spend against budget and forecast, and report variances to leadership.

• Define and monitor department and program KPIs, including:

• Tooling readiness (on-time, first-pass acceptance)
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Scrap and quality escape reduction
• ROI on capital projects
• Vendor performance scores
• Controls standardization compliance

• Report regularly to executive leadership on program readiness, risks, and performance against standards.

• Build, lead, and develop the Advanced Tooling and Automation team, setting clear expectations and standards for individual performance.
• Conduct structured personnel evaluations, including performance reviews, development planning, and succession planning for key roles.
• Coach and mentor engineers and program leads to build technical depth in tooling, automation, and controls.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the department.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Electrical Engineering required; or equivalent work experience.
• Experience
• 10+ years of progressive experience in tooling design, advanced manufacturing, automation, or industrial engineering, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of leading tooling and automation programs from concept through production launch.
• Experience with composite manufacturing tooling strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing standards, SOPs, and governance frameworks at an enterprise or multi-site level.
• Experience managing capital budgets and evaluating ROI on equipment/automation investments.
• Experience with controls platforms (e.g., Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens) and Industry 4.0/data integration tools preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of tooling design, robotics, automation integration, and controls architecture.
• Skilled in supplier negotiation, vendor management, and cost analysis.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and organizational development skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to present to executive leadership.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.

If you enjoy innovation, and an opportunity to learn and contribute to a growing organization, CSP is the place for you!