Job Title: Tooling Engineer
Bridgeport, CT, US, 06610-0156
As the Tooling Engineer, specialized in Injection Molding, you will be responsible for cost, quality, and delivery of managing/engineering the design, build, and development of tooling related to the Injection Molding Process. This position will lead projects and actions that result in improved quality, process stability, and reduced cost. The Tooling Engineer will lead tooling related activities that include being subject matter expert during component DFM with clients, tool design, tool adjustment and assist with root cause analysis of tools underdevelopment or in production.
The position is onsite and is expected to aspire for excellence with a bias towards action, willing to roll up sleeves, get hands on and do what’s necessary to move projects forward in a fast-paced environment. This is a multi-faceted job in a highly collaborative environment across multiple functions that will require flexibility as well as an ability to learn about and develop new technologies and explore new techniques in pursuit of product manufacturing innovation and robustness. This position will interact with customers, manufacturing plants, internal shop, and suppliers.
Essential Functions and Abilities:
- Use of Society of Plastics Industry Standards (SPI) for mold build classification and texture/surface appearance recognition
- Experienced in plastic injection molding tool construction standards for single and multi-cavity molds.
- Decide on tool design concept, with tool designers.
- Subject matter expert during component manufacturing design reviews (internal and external).
- Lead internal and external Design Review meetings with cross functional teams to engineer a tool to meet customer and plant requirements.
- Debug and groom tools to meet quality and manufacturing standards.
- Track and monitor the entire tool performance for cost, quality, and delivery against quoted assumptions.
- Provide general technical assistance to the Tool Room personnel as required.
- Liaison between internal departments including, but not limited to, Quality, Molding, Project Engineering, Tool Room, Shipping, and Scheduling.
- Responsible for continuous improvement tool related issues on respective program families.
- Coordinates both corrective action and continuous improvement activities.
- Supports day to day activities as needed on the production floor.
- Knowledge of both Crystalline & Amorphous plastics resin (examples include polycarbonate, acrylic, PVC, Nylon and Co-polyesters).
- Use and understanding of Mold Flow analysis simulations.
- Use and understanding of in-cavity sensors for process development.
- Prepare or update procedures, work instructions and process sheets as required.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationship with functional groups (Engineering, Quality Operations, Manufacturing, Clients, Suppliers).
- Become Subject Matter Expert for assigned processes and support customer, ISO, FDA, and internal audits.
- Comply with department procedures and ISO and FDA regulations.
- Development and implementation of process improvement projects as well as new process development, including working with outside contractors.
- Discovers potential problems, solves problems, and implements changes in primary and secondary operation processes.
- Responsible for working as part of the team to improve customer service, reduce scrap, reduce lead-time, improve product flow, reduce product cost, and provide smooth implementation of new products.
- Work with other engineers and production operators during tool development.
- Occasionally responsible for working with Quality Engineering to develop quality plans and ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Once employee demonstrates competency in position, he/she may be required to train others in similar roles.
- Strong history of mentoring coworkers in overall personal development
Experience/Education:
- Engineering degree or equivalent experience is preferred.
- Thorough working knowledge of primary or secondary production equipment and processes required.
- Should have demonstrated ability in leading projects through the evaluation of information and responding accordingly using project management tools such as Gant charts, etc.
Skills:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
- The ability to work as part of a cross functional team is essential to the job. Ability to work and contribute in a team oriented, continuous improvement, manufacturing environment.
- Personal computer, problem solving, team building, and SPC skills required.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail required.
- Excellent follow-up skills required and ability to independently solve problems and make recommendations.