Tool Die Maker

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.•Michigan City, IN

6d•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.
Experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or industrial component manufacturing preferred.
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.
Active Shop Presence: The majority of this role is performed standing and moving within the tool room and production floor environment (over 2/3 of time).
Manual Dexterity: Constant use of hands for precision machining operations, tool handling, measurement, and bench work (over 2/3 of time).
Lifting Requirements: Regularly required to lift tooling components up to 25 lbs.; occasionally required to lift up to 50 lbs. with assistance for heavier die sets and fixture assemblies.
Visual Acuity: Close vision required for precision measurement and CNC setup verification; depth perception and ability to adjust focus critical for machining and inspection tasks; color vision required for material identification and process coding.
Environmental Exposure: Regularly works near moving mechanical parts; occasional exposure to fumes or airborne particles (cutting fluids, machining dust); vibration exposure from machining operations; moderate-to-loud noise levels typical of a machine shop environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or industrial component manufacturing preferred.
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.