Tooling Manager Jobs in Appleton, WI (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

A growing manufacturing organization is seeking a Tooling Engineer to support tooling development, design review, maintenance planning, and process improvement initiatives within a metal casting and manufacturing environment. This role works closely with tooling, engineering, production, and external partners to ensure tooling systems meet quality, dimensional, and production requirements while supporting new product launches and continuous improvement efforts.

The ideal candidate will possess strong CAD/CAM experience, blueprint interpretation skills, and a solid understanding of tooling and casting processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Support tooling design, development, maintenance, modification, and replacement activities.
• Review engineering drawings, casting layouts, and tooling designs to ensure compliance with dimensional and production requirements.
• Coordinate tooling projects with internal manufacturing, tooling, and engineering teams.
• Evaluate tooling performance and recommend improvements to enhance quality, productivity, and cost effectiveness.
• Review dimensional inspection data and tooling reports to identify opportunities for corrective actions and process improvements.
• Support new product launches, tooling changes, and engineering change implementation activities.
• Participate in project reviews, quoting activities, and manufacturability assessments.
• Collaborate with production teams to resolve tooling-related issues and minimize disruptions to manufacturing operations.
• Communicate project status, tooling concerns, and recommended solutions to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Provide technical support for tooling builds, repairs, modifications, and validation activities.
• Assist with root cause investigations related to tooling, casting quality, and dimensional concerns.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and engineering records.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and operational performance.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in tooling, manufacturing engineering, casting operations, or a related field.
• Foundry, metal casting, or heavy manufacturing experience is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of tooling systems, casting processes, and manufacturing methods.
• Experience supporting tooling design, tooling corrections, and dimensional validation activities.
• Proficiency with CAD/CAM software and engineering design tools.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong blueprint reading and engineering drawing interpretation skills.
• Ability to analyze dimensional layouts, inspection reports, and tooling data.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Ability to collaborate with engineering, production, quality, tooling, and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, tooling systems, and quality requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and related business software.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
• Strong mathematical and technical reasoning skills.

Travel Requirements

• Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities, suppliers, or customer locations may be required.
• Most travel is expected to be regional and typically completed within a single day.

Work Environment

• Combination of office and manufacturing plant environments.
• Regular interaction with production equipment, tooling systems, and manufacturing operations.
• Appropriate personal protective equipment may be required when working in production areas.