Bachelor's in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Electrical Engineering required.
10+ years in tooling design, advanced manufacturing, automation, or industrial engineering, including 5+ years in leadership.
Proven track record in leading tooling and automation programs from concept to production.
Experience with composite manufacturing tooling strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to develop enterprise-level standards and governance frameworks.
Responsibilities
Establish and maintain standards framework for advanced tooling and automation.
Lead development and validation of advanced tooling and automated systems.
Own tooling quote process and ensure supplier comparisons are effective.
Drive innovation in tooling design through new materials and technologies.
Develop advanced manufacturing technologies and lead automation projects end-to-end.
Benefits
Opportunity to work in innovative and evolving fields.
Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
Collaborative work environment and focus on continuous improvement.
Engagement with cutting-edge technologies like Industry 4.0.
Full Job Description
Job Description 1. Department Standards & Governance
Establish and own the enterprise-wide standards framework for the Advanced Tooling and Automation department, including equipment standards, design standards, build standards, and maintenance standards.
Develop, document, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all core department functions, including:
Tooling quote scope-of-work development
Tooling lineup planning and structuring
Cost breakdown methodology and templates
Vendor selection and evaluation criteria
Tooling and equipment acceptance/runoff criteria
Create and maintain a performance governance model - defining how standards are audited, how compliance is measured, and how deviations are escalated and corrected.
Serve as the final authority on tooling and equipment standards across all sites, ensuring consistency, cost control, and quality.
2. Tooling Quoting & Cost Standards
Define the standard format and process for tooling quote scope of work, ensuring quotes are complete, comparable across suppliers, and aligned to program requirements.
Establish standardized tooling lineup structures (e.g., mold sets, fixtures, secondary equipment, automation cells) for consistent program planning.
Own the RFQ process for tooling and capital equipment, ensuring apples-to-apples supplier comparisons.
3. Advanced Tooling Design & Development
Lead design, development, and validation of advanced tooling for composite molds, secondary equipment, and automation systems.
Oversee tooling readiness for new program launches, ensuring durability, repeatability, and on-time delivery.
Drive innovation into the tooling portfolio - evaluating new materials, processes, and design methodologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, simulation-driven design, modular/reconfigurable tooling) to improve cost, speed, and performance.
4. Advanced Manufacturing & Automation Development
Develop and implement advanced manufacturing technologies, including automation, robotics, predictive maintenance, and Industry 4.0 tools.
Lead automation development end-to-end: concept, business case, design, integration, validation, and scale-up to full production.
Validate new processes and automated systems through pilot lines, ensuring scalability and reliability prior to full deployment.
Identify and prioritize automation opportunities based on labor efficiency, ergonomics, throughput, and ROI.
5. Controls Standardization
Establish enterprise-wide controls standards (PLC platforms, HMI design, safety architecture, network/communication protocols, naming conventions, documentation standards) to ensure consistency, maintainability, and reduced spare-parts complexity across sites.
Partner with controls engineering and IT/OT teams to ensure new automation and tooling projects comply with controls standards from concept through commissioning.
Drive standardization of controls documentation, change management, and cybersecurity practices across all automated systems.
6. Supplier & Vendor Management
Partner with suppliers to deliver best-in-class tooling and automation solutions within budget and timing requirements.
Develop and administer a formal vendor evaluation program - scoring suppliers on quality, cost, delivery, engineering capability, and responsiveness - to guide sourcing decisions and build a preferred supplier base.
Lead supplier performance reviews and drive corrective action when standards are not met.
Report regularly to executive leadership on program readiness, risks, and performance against standards.
11. Team Leadership & Personnel Management
Build, lead, and develop the Advanced Tooling and Automation team, setting clear expectations and standards for individual performance.
Conduct structured personnel evaluations, including performance reviews, development planning, and succession planning for key roles.
Coach and mentor engineers and program leads to build technical depth in tooling, automation, and controls.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the department.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Electrical Engineering required; or equivalent work experience.
Experience
10+ years of progressive experience in tooling design, advanced manufacturing, automation, or industrial engineering, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
Proven track record of leading tooling and automation programs from concept through production launch.
Experience with composite manufacturing tooling strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience developing standards, SOPs, and governance frameworks at an enterprise or multi-site level.
Experience managing capital budgets and evaluating ROI on equipment/automation investments.
Experience with controls platforms (e.g., Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens) and Industry 4.0/data integration tools preferred.
Skills & Competencies
Strong technical knowledge of tooling design, robotics, automation integration, and controls architecture.
Skilled in supplier negotiation, vendor management, and cost analysis.
Strong leadership, coaching, and organizational development skills.
Excellent communication skills, with ability to present to executive leadership.
Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
