Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Plastic Molding Technology

$100K — $130K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar, preferably with an advanced degree
  • 15+ years of experience in injection molding manufacturing, focusing on process or tooling engineering
  • Expertise in specifying equipment and evaluating vendor proposals
  • Advanced knowledge of scientific injection molding and its application in production
  • Experience in capacity planning and equipment sizing to support operational growth
  • Proven track record in leading capital projects, with a focus on technical justification
  • Strong understanding of business strategy and cost considerations in technical decision-making

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the primary technical leader for injection molding across all sites
  • Establish and update company-wide standards for injection molding processes
  • Provide guidance on complex technical issues to engineering and leadership teams
  • Oversee evaluation and initiation of new injection molding tools, ensuring they meet performance standards
  • Act as the main contact for mold builders during tool design and launch phases
  • Develop robust strategies for new program launches and resolve tooling-related issues
  • Collaborate on capital planning for equipment selection and facility expansion
  • Standardize molding practices across locations to enhance consistency and efficiency
  • Identify improvements to streamline engineering workflows
  • Support the development of training materials and technical documentation to standardize operations

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits package
  • Retirement savings plan with company contributions
  • Paid time off and flexible scheduling for work-life balance
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning
  • Engagement in strategic initiatives and major projects with industry exposure
Full Job Description
What you'll do:
  • Serve as the principal technical authority for injection molding across all company facilities
  • Define, maintain, and evolve enterprise-wide standards, best practices, and procedures for injection molding execution
  • Provide expert technical guidance to the Director of Engineering, process engineers, manufacturing engineers, and leadership on complex, high-impact, or non-standard technical decisions
  • Lead the technical evaluation, quoting, and kickoff of all new injection molding tools, ensuring alignment with performance, quality, and long-term manufacturability requirements
  • Act as the primary technical interface with mold builders during tool design, review, and launch phases
  • Support new program launches by establishing robust process strategies and resolving tooling-related risks
  • Define technical specifications for injection molding machines, auxiliary equipment, and automation, including development of RFQs and evaluation of vendor proposals
  • Collaborate with leadership and finance on capital planning, including equipment selection, replacement strategy, and expansion planning
  • Support capital projects through technical justification, vendor engagement, and execution oversight
  • Drive efforts to standardize molding systems and practices across sites to improve consistency, efficiency, scalability, and long-term maintainability
  • Identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary engineering labor from quoting and execution workflows by implementing smarter systems, standards, and tools
  • Support development of training frameworks and technical documentation to reinforce standardized execution
  • Support capacity analysis, equipment sizing, and right-sizing of molding operations to meet current and future business needs
  • Provide technical input into plant layouts, equipment placement, and facility growth plans
  • Partner with operations and leadership to ensure manufacturing strategy aligns with business growth objectives
  • Serve as the corporate technical representative with equipment OEMs, tooling vendors, automation suppliers, and industry partners.
  • Support site teams as needed for complex process challenges, critical customer issues, or strategic initiatives.Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in injection molding
  • Performs other duties as assigned

What we're looking for:
  • Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline with a strong emphasis in plastics manufacturing. Advanced degree (Master's) or equivalent combination of education and progressive industry experience demonstrating sustained technical leadership and authority
  • 15+ years of progressive experience in an injection molding manufacturing environment, with deep expertise in process engineering and/or tooling engineering
  • Demonstrated expertise in specifying injection molding equipment, auxiliary systems, and tooling, including development of technical requirements and evaluation of vendor proposals
  • Advanced proficiency in scientific injection molding principles and their practical application in production and tooling development
  • Proven experience with capacity planning, equipment sizing, and right-sizing manufacturing operations to support growth and efficiency
  • Experience leading or significantly contributing to capital projects, including technical justification, capital request development, and execution support
  • Strong business acumen, with the ability to align technical decisions with broader business objectives, cost considerations, and long-term strategy
  • Functional working knowledge of AutoCAD and SolidWorks sufficient to review layouts, tooling concepts, and equipment integration
  • Strong background in data-driven decision making, including use of process data, metrics, and analysis to guide technical direction
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for technical analysis, documentation, and executive-level communication
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and effectively utilize new software tools and systems used by the organization
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage plant personnel, engineering teams, leadership, customers, and external vendors
  • Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, particularly for complex, cross-site technical challenges
  • Exceptional time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities independently
  • Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and staying current with industry best practices and emerging technologies
  • High level of attention to detail combined with systems-level perspective
  • Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently


This position is on-site in Centennial, CO, with travel as needed to support strategic initiatives, major launches, and critical technical engagements.

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