Tooling Strategy Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Tooling Strategy Manager

Responsibilities

The Tooling Strategy Manager provides strategic leadership over tooling capacity, tooling lifecycle management, customer demand alignment, and the execution of tooling projects across internal and external manufacturing resources. This role oversees tooling qualification, ensures manufacturability standards are met, mentors engineering talent, guides tooling process standardization, and drives continuous improvement to enhance performance, cost structure, and delivery reliability. The position is critical in strengthening customer relationships, improving operational readiness, and ensuring robust execution of new product introduction (NPI) and tooling programs.

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting pay: $155,000+ annually

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) savings plan with employer match

• Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave

• Life insurance and employee assistance programs

• Leadership development, professional training, and technical growth opportunities

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the overall tooling strategy, ensuring tooling condition, lifecycle planning, and alignment with customer demand.

• Develop or evolve planning tools to match tooling capacity with customer casting requirements and determine new tooling needs.

• Provide full project management leadership for tooling builds from quotation through qualification and release.

• Direct new product introduction initiatives, ensuring manufacturability, customer alignment, and adherence to schedule, budget, and quality expectations.

• Mentor and guide engineering staff in NPI, tooling project management, tooling qualification, and process development.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to advance technical capabilities, reduce cost, and improve manufacturing performance.

• Participate in run-at-rate analysis, assess future product capability needs, and support capital planning requirements.

• Report status on tooling and NPI programs regularly, highlighting milestones, risks, and achievements.

• Manage and develop staff, including training, coaching, project assignments, and performance evaluations.

• Oversee development and maintenance of tooling and quality standards.

• Create and review cost models; support quoting and business case development.

• Coordinate manufacturing plans with tool designers, CNC programmers, and die makers.

• Lead improvement initiatives in tooling methods, lead times, and product quality.

• Ensure systems and accountability for materials inventory maintenance.

• Evaluate equipment and capability opportunities for future growth.

• Interpret customer part and tooling specifications thoroughly and accurately.

• Develop 3D solid CAD models using Siemens NX / Unigraphics to meet customer requirements.

• Provide guidance or oversight for CNC programming, including prototype core machining.

• Collaborate directly with customer product and process engineers for design development and approval.

• Maintain accurate project documentation, including process flow, time logs, milestones, and approvals.

Job Roles

• Anticipatory coordination – Considers future capability needs; advises stakeholders based on desired outcomes; ensures the right projects are prioritized.

• Customer liaison – Acts as the communication and expectation-setting bridge; strengthens customer confidence with clear delivery and technical alignment.

• Business sense – Understands top and bottom-line impact; aligns technical decisions with financial outcomes; drives accountability and value creation.

• Execution – Delivers on commitments; manages timelines and tradeoffs; ensures organizational alignment and follow-through.

• Project management – Uses expert-level organizational skills to develop milestones, manage resources, and ensure timely execution.

• Communication – Facilitates alignment across internal and external stakeholders; provides clear updates; solicits meaningful feedback.

• Continuous learning – Applies lessons from previous projects; balances proven standards with innovation; builds feedback loops for improvement.

• Analysis and expertise – Synthesizes information; applies deep process knowledge; uses data to guide decision-making.

• Mentor and coach – Develops talent; empowers associates; builds strong technical understanding and cross-functional capability.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution

• Minimum of 7 years of engineering experience, including tooling experience

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience

• Legally authorized to work in the United States (no visa sponsorship available)

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong financial literacy and ability to interpret cost models

• Advanced planning skills in complex demand-driven manufacturing environments

• Working knowledge of investment casting processes, customer specifications, and quality systems

• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional product or tooling teams

• Proficiency with CAD software, including Siemens NX / Unigraphics

• Experience with CNC programming, tooling design, or die manufacturing environments