About the role:The Principal Tooling Engineer is a senior individual contributor providing advanced tooling support focused on on-site tool design, troubleshooting, and mold diagnostics to stabilize production across multiple Viant sites. The role leads/supports tooling execution from RFQ/DFM through build and qualification/validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), using structured root cause analysis and data-driven decisions to resolve complex issues and strengthen long-term robustness. This position also supports quoting and early customer engagements (tool concept and simulation-informed input) and serves as a key technical interface among Viant sites, customers, and tool shops to ensure alignment, compliance, and reliable production outcomes.
What you'll do: Tool fabrication cycle:- Support Project Managers throughout the tool build cycle
- Project initiations
- Provide support to site QE on how to measure dimensions, supporting correlation between Viant manufacturing location, mold shop, & customer, support measurement fixture design and manage fabrication
- Work with Site Tooling Engineer on requirements throughout design.
- Work with Process Engineer on requirements throughout design and development.
- Provide engineering support for business development to sell tooling solutions and solve tooling issues.
- Provide engineering support for existing tool modification and repairs.
- Supervision of tooling bench inspection upon receipt at Viant facility and instruction to tool room employees for correct preparation to get the molds ready for validation as needed.
- Bench inspection and I.Q., O.Q. runs must have a report.
- Other related projects and tasks assigned
Site support & troubleshooting:- Provide tooling troubleshooting and advanced mold diagnostics support to the manufacturing locations
- Lead structured root cause analysis and drive corrective actions in collaboration with site teams.
- Support quoting and early customer engagements by providing tooling technical input (including mold flow/simulation-informed recommendations as applicable).
- Provide technical support for tooling topics during NPI-supporting DFM reviews, mold start-up, and validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) in partnership with Program and Site teams.
RFQ Submission:- Concept mold configurations and requirements for quoting
- Lead technical reviews with the customer and mold shop
- Manage DFM including Drawing reviews with site Quality Engineers
- Tool design & compliance with tooling manual
- Manage measurement fixture & EOAT design & fabrication
- Manage mold shop's deliverables & expectations
- Confirm receiving site requirements including press designation
- Tool development, review of metrology data for OOS conditions and development into grooming plans.
- Travel to various customer sites, tool fabrication sites and Viant production facilities as needed.
- Prepare, track, and communicate project plans that specify project phases, tasks, task interdependencies and durations. Coordinate tasks and schedules.
Requirements:Education:- Certification from a trade school in mold making or Associates Technical degree minimum or completion of a 4,000 hour or 2-year mold making apprenticeship.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering is a plus
Years of Experience:- 10+ years of experience in a mold repair shop environment, tool maintenance, building of new molds and components, design, qualification, validation, etc.
- Experience in medical molding and/or other regulated manufacturing environments
Job Knowledge: - Experience specifying, reviewing and improving tool designs
- SolidWorks CAD software abilities, Excel, PPT, Word and MS Project
- Knowledge in FDA, QSR, and ISO 13485 medical device regulations and standards.
- Understanding statistics, Cp & Cpk studies for tool grooming. I.Q., O.Q. and P.Q. requirements
- Understanding of Gantt charts for tool build schedules
- Familiarity with the various engineering grade thermoplastic resins and Mold Flow analysis
- Experience using mold simulation tools beyond general mold flow exposure (e.g., Moldflow, Moldex3D, Sigma Soft) to support tooling quotes and design decisions.
Additional Requirements:- Authorized to work in the U.S.
- Spanish proficiency (Required): Fluent professional Spanish (spoken and written)
- Ability to travel up to 75% to Viant sites (U.S., Costa Rica, Tijuana, and Vega Baja, PR)
- High self-sufficiency and ability to work effectively across multiple sites with frequent short notice travel.
- Demonstrated root cause analysis leadership for tooling related issues, including driving corrective actions with sites and external tool shops.
- Strong customer-facing technical communication skills (able to explain complex tooling topics clearly in early customer engagements and NPI phases).
