Senior Tool Maker

Senior Tool Maker

This position requires a highly motivated and experienced Senior Tool Maker to provide technical leadership within the Tool Room. The Senior Tool Maker serves as the subject matter expert for manual and CNC machining, tooling, fixturing, and gage building, while leading daily tool room activities, supporting engineering and production teams, and mentoring tool room personnel.

This position requires a minimum of 10 years of experience in a tool room environment with strong expertise in manual machining, including turning, milling, and grinding, as well as experience with CNC machines using MDI and Fanuc controls, with the ability to write and modify programs as required. A minimum of 5 years of experience in fixture design, build, and repair is required. The Senior Tool Maker must demonstrate strong proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering drawings, blueprints, and GD&T, and provide constructive technical input during tooling and fixture design reviews. This position is expected to lead by example, balancing hands-on technical work with ownership of tooling quality, standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Leads the fabrication, maintenance, modification, and installation of tooling such as production assembly jigs, engineering test fixtures, and fabrication equipment in collaboration with Engineering, Production, and Production Engineering teams
• Serves as the technical authority for tooling, fixtures, and gages, providing guidance, troubleshooting, and approval for complex or critical tooling work
• Reviews and contributes to tooling and fixture design reviews, providing constructive input to improve manufacturability, durability, safety, and efficiency
• Develops, maintains, and enforces documentation standards related to tooling design, fabrication, usage, and associated calibration equipment
• Plans, prioritizes, and oversees machine setups and operations based on work orders, drawings, and machining instructions to ensure parts meet specifications and delivery commitments
• Mentors and supports toolroom personnel by sharing best practices, coaching on machining techniques, and assisting with complex setups and troubleshooting
• Ensures all tooling, fixturing, materials, and CNC programs are organized, controlled, and maintained systematically to support repeatable and reliable execution of processes
• Partners with internal customers to follow up on toolroom services, address concerns, and ensure expectations are met or exceeded
• Champions 5S, safety, and housekeeping standards, ensuring work areas remain organized, clean, and hazard-free
• Maintains strong working knowledge and hands-on capability with Lathe, Mill, Surface Grinding, OD Grinding, and EDM, stepping in directly as needed for high-complexity work
• Supports equipment selection and continuous improvement initiatives by evaluating tooling methods, equipment, and processes
• Must be able to work overtime and weekends as needed
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and orally
• Adhere and monitor SOP
• Effectively communicate and notify supervisor when there are any discrepancies
• Must be able to accurately input all required data into the manufacturing database
• Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with the leadership expectations of the role

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience functioning as a technical lead, mentor, or go-to resource within a tool room or manufacturing team
• Interpret complex technical drawings (GD&T)
• Must have strong knowledge of CNC machine "G-Code" and troubleshooting skills
• Interpret Work Orders, plan execution and enter data into the Manufacturing database (ERP)
• Ability to prioritize work, make technical decisions, and provide direction in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of MasterCAM is a plus
• Knowledge of firearms; quality, features, safety, etc.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Cross functional team player with high levels of professionalism, integrity, and enthusiasm
• Must be able to work accurately and efficiently in a fast work environment that has the potential to change due to regulatory and business needs
• Need to be detail oriented and highly organized with the ability to multi-task
• Experience working independently with little supervision

Education/Experience:

• Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum of 10 years of Tool Room experience, with progressively increasing responsibility
• Minimum of 10 years of CNC machining experience, including setup, programming support, and troubleshooting
• Minimum of 10 years of manual machining experience, including turning, milling, grinding, and precision fitting
• Preferred: Tool Maker Apprenticeship/Technical Degree
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Lean manufacturing experience

Language Skills:

Must have excellent communication skills; reading, writing and listening. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret blueprints. Ability write and read spreadsheets.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Travel Requirements:

Travel will normally be less than 5% (training, equipment development, satellite facility support).

Computer Skills:

Required knowledge of MS Excel and MS Word using MS Windows platform. MS PowerPoint and MS Access experience a plus.

Other Skills & Abilities:

Attendance is an essential job requirement defined as having regular, consistent, reliable, punctual and predictable attendance including the ability to work regular hours and shifts, overtime before and after shifts and on weekends. Ability to work as part of a team, including all related departments/plants or independently as required to achieve internal and external customer satisfaction.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

While performing the duties of the job the employee works in a manufacturing environment and may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds. The vision requirements include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Authorization:

This position requires compliance with the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). Must be a "U.S. Person" as defined by all pertinent regulations and are required to show proof substantiating this upon being hired.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Activities, duties and/or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice at the sole discretion of the Company.