Associate Manager, Tooling and Process Engineering

Aptar Group•Auburn, AL

57d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading tooling and process engineering functions within a manufacturing environment. The Associate Manager will oversee the complete lifecycle of injection molds, develop and standardize molding processes, and lead a team of technicians and engineers. The position requires strong expertise in injection molding, mold design, and process optimization, with a focus on continuous improvement, scrap reduction, and cycle-time efficiency. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and support for audits and compliance activities are also key aspects of this role.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
10+ years of injection molding experience including tooling and process engineering
5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
Expert knowledge of mold design, thermoplastics processing, and scientific molding principles
Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills

Nice To Haves

RJG Master Molder certification or equivalent
Experience with automated or high-cavitation molding environments
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification
ERP or MES experience related to tooling and process control

Responsibilities

Own the complete lifecycle of injection molds, including design reviews, sourcing, validation, launch, preventive maintenance, and refurbishment.
Establish and maintain mold PM standards, spare parts strategies, and tooling documentation.
Partner with tool shops and mold suppliers to ensure quality, timing, and cost targets are met.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for mold-related downtime, quality issues, or performance gaps.
Approve mold modifications and engineering changes to improve reliability, cycle time, and part quality.
Develop, standardize, and approve robust injection molding processes (Scientific / Decoupled Molding preferred).
Lead process development for new product launches including DOE, mold trials, and validation.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives for scrap reduction, cycle-time optimization, and process stability.
Ensure documented process standards and setup sheets are controlled and followed.
Serve as escalation point for complex molding and processing issues.
Directly manage and mentor Tooling Technicians, Process Technicians, and Process Engineers.
Set performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create skill development plans.
Build bench strength through training, cross-functional exposure, and succession planning.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Production, and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues.
Support audits, customer visits, and technical reviews as the senior molding expert.
Provide technical input to capital projects, automation, and equipment selection.
Support ISO, regulatory, and customer-specific compliance activities.
Improve mold uptime, scrap rates, and process capability (Cp/Cpk).
Reduce startup, changeover, and launch inefficiencies.
Ensure new tools and processes meet performance and delivery expectations.