Tooling Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Tooling Engineer is a part of UGN’s Downers Grove (corporate) Engineering team. This senior‑level position oversees complex tool engineering assignments, including, but not limited to, design, purchase, and implementation of UGN machine process tooling at all UGN facilities. This role serves as a UGN subject matter expert in regard to tooling.

This role will require travel up to 50% of the time.

• Manage assigned tooling programs from kickoff to launch to ensure safety, cost, quality, and delivery.
• Prepare tooling expenditures and purchase orders after receiving authorization paperwork from Sales Account Managers and/or Program Managers.
• Collaborate with tooling vendors and plant team members and product development team members to review tool designs and drive meetings to meet all UGN design standards and requirements.
• Document tooling designs, timelines, reports, and quotes.
• Oversee tooling maturation and trial management, including tooling approval at vendor sites and trial support at UGN facilities, providing hands‑on molding and tooling assistance using small hand tools.
• Maintain internal UGN schedules while communicating program status and resource needs to tooling management, operations, sales, service groups, and outside vendors.
• Monitor each assigned tooling project and report progress weekly during tooling department and program manager meetings.
• Coordinate projects with quality engineering and operations teams to ensure part quality, standards, and production rates meet UGN equipment capabilities; travel to various sites to provide support as required.
• Facilitate routine CAD data transfers of part data and tooling records between design engineering, sales, and vendors via email and various cloud services.
• Support tooling quoting as needed for new and engineering changes.
• Participate in tooling design review standards revisions and reviews for optimization and standardization.
• Support cost reductions, new technology, and part manufacturing with problem‑solving support.
• Lead the most complex tool engineering assignments and high‑profile projects across the organization.
• Mentor less experienced tooling engineers and act as backup for the tooling engineering manager during absences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) or equivalent from an accredited college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of experience in tooling in a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent tooling engineering skills with the ability to coach, mentor, and train other team members.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to understand part and tool drawings.
• High level of technical aptitude – strong understanding of systems, equipment, and processes.
• Hands‑on experience and ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts and principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook), Internet, AutoCAD & design software.

Pay range: $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 and participation in our annual incentive plan. If you are offered this position at UGN, your final base salary will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors, UGN considers internal equity among current team members when developing the final offer.

Additionally, we offer a comprehensive benefit package for full‑time team members including medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D insurance, 401(k) with company match, short and long‑term disability insurance, and paid time off, including 10 paid holidays.

UGN is a proud equal‑opportunity workplace. UGN participates in E‑Verify. For more information, go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. E‑Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.