Tool and Mold Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Technical Tooling & Molding Manager

We are looking for an experienced Technical Tooling & Molding Manager to lead our injection molding and in-house tool room operations.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position . We are looking for someone who can manage a team while also serving as a high-level technical resource for complex tooling, mold, molding-process, and equipment problems.

The ideal candidate has deep experience with injection molding, mold design and repair, Scientific Molding, plastics/materials, injection molding machines, tooling, and machining . This person should be comfortable getting on the plant floor, diagnosing difficult problems, making repairs or modifications, and working directly with the team to develop practical solutions.

This is not a traditional management-only position . The successful candidate will spend significant time working directly with tooling, molds, molding processes, equipment, and technical troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage injection molding and tool room operations.
• Serve as the senior technical resource for complex tooling, mold, molding-process, and equipment issues.
• Troubleshoot injection molding machines, molds, tooling, hot runners, processing problems, and material-related issues.
• Apply Scientific Molding / Scientific Injection Molding principles to develop, troubleshoot, validate, and optimize processes.
• Diagnose root causes of molding defects, process variation, equipment problems, and tooling issues.
• Design, modify, repair, and improve injection molds, inserts, fixtures, and custom tooling.
• Support mold maintenance, preventative maintenance, repairs, modifications, and hot runner troubleshooting.
• Design molds from concept through completion when required.
• Work hands-on with CNC mills, lathes, EDMs, grinders, and other tool room equipment.
• Design and fabricate fixtures, manufacturing components, and End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT).
• Use CAD/CAM software, including SolidWorks or similar systems, to design and modify tooling.
• Apply knowledge of plastics chemistry, polymers, resins, additives, colorants, and material behavior to troubleshoot processing and quality issues.
• Support automation and molding equipment and work with engineering/maintenance teams to improve reliability and production performance.
• Lead root-cause analysis, process development, R&D, and continuous improvement projects.
• Establish and maintain mold preventative maintenance programs and technical documentation.
• Train, develop, and provide technical direction to tooling, molding, setup, and manufacturing personnel.
• Establish priorities and manage tool room projects, equipment, workflow, and personnel.
• Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor and lead by example.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in injection molding, tooling, mold design, plastics processing, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related field.
• Previous management or supervisory experience.
• Strong expertise in injection molding processes and Scientific Molding .
• Extensive experience troubleshooting injection molds, molding machines, tooling, and processing problems .
• Proven experience designing, modifying, maintaining, and repairing injection molds.
• Strong understanding of plastics, polymers, resins, additives, and plastic processing .
• Hands-on experience with CNC machining, EDM, milling, turning, grinding, and tool room operations .
• Experience with mold design and CAD/CAM software, preferably SolidWorks.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering, mold, and part drawings.
• Experience designing and building custom tooling, fixtures, and EOAT.
• Experience with manufacturing automation and related equipment.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required, preferably Mechanical, Plastics, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.

The Right Person Will Be

• Highly technical and genuinely hands-on.
• A strong troubleshooter who can identify the root cause of difficult molding and tooling problems.
• Comfortable working directly on injection molding machines, molds, tooling, and related equipment.
• Able to move between management, engineering, the tool room, and the production floor .
• A practical problem solver who can design a solution and, when appropriate, help build or repair it.
• Experienced enough to serve as the go-to technical resource for complex molding and tooling issues.
• A strong leader who can manage, train, and develop employees.
• Organized, accountable, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize competing projects.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where immediate technical support may be required.

Why This Role Is Different

If you are an experienced Tooling Engineer, Mold Designer, Mold Maker, Injection Molding Engineer, Tool Room Manager, Plastics Engineer, or Technical Molding Manager who wants to remain technically involved rather than move into a purely administrative management role, this position may be a strong fit.

We need someone who can lead the team AND be the person they call when a difficult mold, tooling, machine, material, or injection molding problem needs to be solved.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to work on-site in Rockland County, NY.
• Must live within a reasonable commuting distance.
• Must be able to pass mandatory initial and random drug testing.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.

Compensation & Benefits

• $130,000 annual salary
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Company benefits plan upon eligibility
• 401(k) upon eligibility
• Paid vacation and personal days
• Stable, positive manufacturing environment