Senior HPDC Tooling Specialist 4,000T+

Job Description

Job Description

Senior HPDC Tooling Specialist 4,000T+

Location: Shelbyville, KY
Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Schedule: On-Site; Shift flexibility required
Compensation: $130k-$190k/yr depending on experience
Relocation: Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Position Overview

Entech Staffing Solutions is seeking an experienced HPDC Tool Coach / Senior Die Casting Tooling Specialist for a hands-on leadership role supporting large-tonnage High-Pressure Die Casting operations.

The ideal candidate will have 7+ years of hands-on HPDC experience, including personal experience operating and performing die changes on 4,000+ ton machines . This individual will lead complex die changes, troubleshoot tooling and process issues, support die health and reliability, and coach operators and setup personnel on safe, consistent procedures.

This opportunity is well suited for an experienced Die Setter, Die Change Lead, Die Casting Technician, Tooling Specialist, Tool & Die Technician, or similar HPDC professional .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and perform die changes on 4,000+ ton HPDC machines , including removal, transport, installation, alignment, and clamping

• Safely handle large dies using overhead cranes, die carts, rolling bolsters, and related equipment

• Prepare dies and casting cells for production and first-article readiness

• Inspect and troubleshoot dies, inserts, slides, cores, ejectors, cooling circuits, hydraulics, vacuum systems, spray systems, and related tooling

• Diagnose tooling-related defects such as flash, soldering, sticking, short shots, dimensional variation, heat checking, erosion, cooling issues, and die wear

• Perform or coordinate tooling adjustments and minor on-press repairs

• Verify cooling, heating, hydraulic, pneumatic, vacuum, and electrical/limit-switch systems

• Partner with production, toolroom, maintenance, process engineering, and quality teams to resolve tooling and setup issues

• Train and coach operators and setup personnel on die changes, setup, inspection, and troubleshooting

• Establish and maintain standardized changeover procedures, checklists, die-set information, clamp maps, and cooling maps

• Support planned and emergency changeovers while minimizing downtime

• Maintain tooling, die-change, maintenance, and shift documentation

• Follow LOTO, crane/rigging, PPE, molten-metal, and high-pressure equipment safety requirements

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on HPDC, die casting, tooling, or die-setting experience

• Personal experience operating and performing die changes on HPDC machines rated at 4,000 tons or larger

• Experience with large, heavy dies and overhead crane handling

• Strong understanding of aluminum HPDC processes, die construction, and tooling-related defects

• Ability to read die drawings, product prints, setup sheets, and tooling documentation

• Strong mechanical troubleshooting skills, including hydraulic, pneumatic, cooling, and related systems

• Ability to train and communicate technical information effectively

• Current or obtainable crane and forklift certification

• High school diploma or GED

• Ability to work on-site in a hot, noisy manufacturing environment and accommodate varying shifts, weekends, and overtime

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 4,500T+ HPDC equipment

• Journeyman Tool & Die Maker or comparable technical training

• NADCA training or certifications

• Experience with Bhler, BhlerPrince, Idra, Italpresse, Frech, Toshiba, UBE, LK, or similar equipment

• Structural or high-integrity aluminum casting experience

• Vacuum-assisted HPDC experience

• Experience with rolling bolsters or powered die carts

• On-die or on-press repair experience

• Previous experience as a Senior Die Setter, Die Change Lead, Tooling Lead, or similar

• SMED or other die-change improvement experience

Physical & Work Environment

• Extended periods of standing and walking on the production floor

• Exposure to high temperatures, molten metal, noise, and heavy industrial equipment

• Regular work around large-tonnage casting machinery and tooling

• Use of required PPE and heavy die-handling equipment

• Occasional lifting of materials up to approximately 50 lbs.

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