Tool Die Maker

Commercial Vehicle Group•Michigan City, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Tool & Die Maker serves as the technical backbone of the plant's tooling infrastructure; designing, fabricating, maintaining, and repairing the precision tooling, fixtures, dies, and production nests that keep manufacturing operations running at peak efficiency. This role operates at the intersection of engineering and the shop floor, functioning either as the originating design authority for new tooling or as the skilled executor of tooling orders issued by the Engineering or Process departments. The Tool & Die Maker leverages advanced CNC machining (Haas), Mastercam CAM programming, lathe operations, and additive manufacturing (3D printing) to deliver tooling solutions with speed and precision. This position reports directly to the Operations Manager.

Requirements

Education: High school diploma or GED required. Completion of a Tool & Die apprenticeship program, technical certificate (CNC/Machining), or AAS in Manufacturing Technology strongly preferred.
Experience: 3–7+ years of hands-on experience as a Tool Maker, Tool & Die Maker, or Machinist in a production manufacturing environment.
CNC & CAM Proficiency: Ability to program, set up, and run Haas CNC mills using Mastercam; interpret GD&T and engineering drawings; select appropriate tooling, speeds, and feeds for varied materials.
Additive Manufacturing: Working knowledge of 3D printing technologies (FDM preferred), slicing software, and design-for-print principles as applied to functional tooling components.
Manual Machining: Proficiency with manual lathe operations and general bench work (fitting, grinding, polishing, assembly of tooling subcomponents).
Problem Solving: Ability to diagnose tooling failures under time pressure, weigh repair vs. replace decisions, and execute solutions that minimize production downtime.
Blueprint Reading & Metrology: Skilled in reading and interpreting engineering drawings and GD&T callouts; proficient with precision measurement instruments (micrometers, calipers, CMM awareness).
Communication & Collaboration: Clear verbal communication with production supervisors, team leads, and engineering staff; ability to document work completed and escalate design or process concerns effectively.
Adaptability: Comfortable shifting priorities dynamically to address urgent production tooling failures while maintaining progress on scheduled fabrication work.

Nice To Haves

Experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or industrial component manufacturing preferred.
Completion of a Tool & Die apprenticeship program, technical certificate (CNC/Machining), or AAS in Manufacturing Technology strongly preferred.