Senior Metal Tooling Engineer

Hewlett Packard Enterprise • Spring, TX

15h • $105,500 - $243,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what’s next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Family Definition: Leads sheet metal tooling engineering activities supporting the development, validation, launch, and continuous improvement of stage tools, progressive dies, and soft tool metal fabrication for sheet metal components used in enterprise server, storage, networking, rail kits, and rack products.

Job Level Definition: Applies advanced subject matter knowledge to solve complex business issues and is regarded as a subject matter expert who provides technical leadership to functional and technical program teams. Serves as a technical authority for metal forming processes, tooling strategy, manufacturability, supplier qualification, supplier process capability, materials science, tool cost modeling, supplier negotiations, and sustainability to global program teams.

Description:
Responsibilities:
Leads sheet metal tooling process strategy, design, and build activities for new product introductions and sustaining programs from concept to end of service. Evaluates and reviews manufacturability of complex sheet metal designs during concept, development, and production phases. Conducts Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with product design teams and manufacturing engineering partners to ensure tooling feasibility and process capability. Reviews and validates through all stages of design. Reviews and validates prototype tooling, stage tool, and progressive die process plans and die designs. Reviews and approves tooling qualification activities. Resolves tooling, dimensional, cosmetic, and process-related manufacturing issues through structured root cause analysis with corrective and preventative action plans. Drives continuous improvement: Improves yield, repeatability, process stability, and dimensional performance across global manufacturing operations. Identifies cost reduction opportunities through process optimization, tooling standardization, and manufacturing efficiency improvements. Coordinates tooling modifications, engineering changes, and other continuous improvement initiatives. Leads negotiations for new tool and tool engineering change supplier quotes. Develops and maintains models, processes, and standards, including: tool cost model and method, sheet metal material specifications, sheet metal tooling standards Provides technical leadership and mentorship related to metal forming processes, tool engineering, and production practices. Drives sustainability initiatives related to sheet metal manufacturing and metal fabricating, carbon footprint accounting, and carbon emissions reduction initiatives Provides technical leadership during high-risk manufacturing escalations and cross-functional problem-solving situations. Reviews quality and first article inspection reports from suppliers. Support new supplier qualification evaluation studies. Gathers market intelligence on material science and manufacturing technology advancements. Researches sheet metal cost and manufacturing labor rate trends for cost modeling and forecasting.

Impact/Scope: This role directly impacts product quality, manufacturing scalability, tooling investment efficiency, sustainability performance, supplier capability, launch timing, and the ability to protect product design intent through robust manufacturing execution. The Sheet Metal Tooling Engineer serves as a critical technical bridge between product development, procurement, sustainability, and global manufacturing operations. Collaborates with peers, mechanical and thermal engineers, technicians, and external design partners and manufacturing personnel to execute new product programs within budget and on time. Interacts with executive management, high-level Individual Contributors, Managers, Directors, and Program Core Teams. Leads multiple projects requiring critical process leadership to drive manufacturability, cost engineering, and program execution to support Advanced Development, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Quality organizations and global tooling suppliers to ensure product design intent is achieved through robust, repeatable, and cost-effective manufacturing processes.

Complexity: Moderate - High.

Requirements

• Completion of the U.S. Dept. of Labor certified apprenticeship program in die engineering or diemaking OR Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Industrial Management
• Minimum 10 years of hands-on die engineering or shop floor experience, OR engineering experience directly working with die engineers.
• Advanced knowledge of sheet metal forming processes, tooling systems, and die mechanics.
• Ability to read 2D process plans and die drawings.
• Experience with prototyping, stage tools, and progressive dies.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal materials, including hot-dipped galvanized commercial steel, 300-series stainless steel, and high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steel.
• Experience working with global tooling suppliers and stamping manufacturers.
• Strong problem-solving, crisis management, analytical, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of GD&T, dimensional capability analysis, tolerance stack-up, and statistical process control.
• Background in tooling qualification, production launch, and supplier process validation.
• Experience managing complex global tooling programs with aggressive launch timelines.
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives, including carbon footprinting, EPEAT, and environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.
• Intermediate proficiency with Creo or other 3D CAD solid modeling software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface from factory floor operations to executive leadership.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex technical issues with simplicity and clarity to senior executive management levels.

Responsibilities

• Leads sheet metal tooling process strategy, design, and build activities for new product introductions and sustaining programs from concept to end of service.
• Evaluates and reviews manufacturability of complex sheet metal designs during concept, development, and production phases.
• Conducts Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with product design teams and manufacturing engineering partners to ensure tooling feasibility and process capability.
• Reviews and validates through all stages of design.
• Reviews and validates prototype tooling, stage tool, and progressive die process plans and die designs.
• Reviews and approves tooling qualification activities.
• Resolves tooling, dimensional, cosmetic, and process-related manufacturing issues through structured root cause analysis with corrective and preventative action plans.
• Drives continuous improvement: Improves yield, repeatability, process stability, and dimensional performance across global manufacturing operations.
• Identifies cost reduction opportunities through process optimization, tooling standardization, and manufacturing efficiency improvements.
• Coordinates tooling modifications, engineering changes, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leads negotiations for new tool and tool engineering change supplier quotes.
• Develops and maintains models, processes, and standards, including: tool cost model and method, sheet metal material specifications, sheet metal tooling standards
• Provides technical leadership and mentorship related to metal forming processes, tool engineering, and production practices.
• Drives sustainability initiatives related to sheet metal manufacturing and metal fabricating, carbon footprint accounting, and carbon emissions reduction initiatives
• Provides technical leadership during high-risk manufacturing escalations and cross-functional problem-solving situations.
• Reviews quality and first article inspection reports from suppliers.
• Support new supplier qualification evaluation studies.
• Gathers market intelligence on material science and manufacturing technology advancements.
• Researches sheet metal cost and manufacturing labor rate trends for cost modeling and forecasting.

Benefits

• Health & Wellbeing comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.
• Personal & Professional Development programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have
• Unconditional Inclusion
• Flexibility to manage work and personal needs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior