Lead Tool Maker
About The Position
The Lead Tool Maker oversees mold maintenance, troubleshooting, and precision repairs at the Vista, California facility. This hands-on, player-coach role combines advanced technical work with leadership of the toolroom team. The Lead Tool Maker guides and mentors toolmakers, supports preventative maintenance, and helps ensure injection molds operate reliably, efficiently, and to exacting specifications. The role contributes to product quality, production uptime, and the long-term performance of tooling assets. The position leads maintenance and repair of multi-cavity, hot runner, and high-precision injection molds; coordinates toolroom workflow and repair priorities; and partners with the Director of Manufacturing on tooling and production needs. It also supports quality, safety, documentation, and continuous improvement, including maintaining tooling records in IQMS and reducing scrap and recurring tooling issues. This is a hands-on manufacturing role involving work throughout the toolroom and manufacturing floor. It requires lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 50 pounds independently; standing, walking, bending, and reaching; detailed precision work and close visual inspection; and safe operation of manual and CNC toolroom equipment. The role may involve forklifts and overhead cranes, as qualified, and work around industrial machinery, moderate noise, coolants, lubricants, and cleaning solvents while following safety and PPE requirements.
Requirements
- 10+ years of toolmaking experience, including at least 3 years in a lead, supervisory, or team leadership role.
- Demonstrated expertise maintaining and repairing multi-cavity, hot runner, and high-precision injection molds.
- Advanced manual machining skills, including experience with lathes, mills, grinders, and specialized tooling repair techniques.
- Ability to interpret complex tool drawings, blueprints, and CAD files.
- Experience using ERP or manufacturing systems to document maintenance activities and track tooling history.
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to train, mentor, and motivate team members.
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to precision, quality, and safe work practices.
- Ability to prioritize multiple repairs and respond effectively to changing production demands.
- Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 pounds independently.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the toolroom and manufacturing floor.
- Ability to perform detailed precision work requiring strong hand-eye coordination and close visual inspection.
- Ability to work around industrial machinery, moderate noise, coolants, lubricants, and cleaning solvents while following safety and PPE requirements.
Nice To Haves
- IQMS experience is preferred.
- Ability to safely operate forklifts and overhead cranes, as qualified.
Responsibilities
- Develop and manage preventative maintenance schedules based on shot counts, tool history, and production requirements.
- Diagnose complex injection mold issues, including flash, venting problems, dimensional inconsistencies, and other tooling defects.
- Perform and oversee precision mold repairs to restore tools to original specifications and minimize production downtime.
- Maintain multi-cavity, hot runner, and high-precision injection molds to maximize tool life and production performance.
- Identify opportunities to improve mold cooling, venting, and ejection systems to enhance part quality and cycle times.
- Manage critical spare parts inventory and coordinate replacement of high-wear components.
- Provide day-to-day leadership, technical guidance, and hands-on training to toolmakers and apprentices.
- Coordinate toolroom workflow and prioritize repairs based on production needs.
- Partner with the Director of Manufacturing to communicate tooling priorities, production concerns, and maintenance requirements.
- Promote craftsmanship, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Maintain accurate tooling maintenance records, repair histories, and tool life documentation in the IQMS system.
- Identify ways to reduce scrap, prevent recurring tooling issues, and improve manufacturing efficiency.
- Enforce safety procedures, including lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and safe crane and hoist operation.
- Help the team understand how quality tooling practices contribute to company performance and profitability.
- Safely operate manual and CNC toolroom equipment and, as qualified, forklifts and overhead cranes.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
