Tooling Engineer

Sika AG•Grandview, MO

About The Position

The Tooling Engineer specifies, sources, approves, and supports new production injection mold tooling for parts designed by the automotive application engineering group, from kickoff through launch and production. The role focuses on complex multi-shot tooling, including 2-shot and 3-shot rotary and index molds, operated on 500- to 1,300-ton presses. The engineer collaborates with design engineering, process engineering, quality, domestic and international tool shops, and plant teams to deliver tools that meet part specifications, timing, and budget requirements. The plant uses 2-shot and 3-shot rotary and index molds, family tools, and valve gate, thermal gate, and cold runner manifold systems. Most parts are molded in nylon and Sika proprietary materials. The engineer typically manages 20 or more new tool builds and at least 10 engineering changes or repairs concurrently, coordinating with tool shops in the United States, Canada, China, and Portugal. The position also provides technical oversight of production molds, supports troubleshooting and corrective actions, maintains mold maintenance and repair history, contributes to tooling standards and continuous improvement, and follows plant safety requirements. The position is permanent. A bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline is strongly preferred; candidates with an associate's degree or journeyman mold maker credential and at least eight years of injection mold tooling experience will also be considered.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in the design, development, or sourcing of plastic injection mold tooling.
Experience managing multiple new tool builds concurrently with outside tool shops, from design review through tool trials and approval.
Ability to read and interpret part prints, mold drawings, GD&T, and dimensional layout reports.
Proficiency in SolidWorks for part and tool design reviews.
Strong relationship-building and communication skills with tool shops, design engineers, and plant floor teams.
Ability to travel 20–30% domestically and internationally, including to Canada, China, and Portugal, for design reviews and tool trials.
Valid passport or ability to obtain one before the first international trip.
A bachelor's degree in plastics, mechanical, manufacturing, or another engineering discipline is strongly preferred. Candidates without a bachelor's degree may be considered with an associate's degree or journeyman mold maker credential plus at least 8 years of injection mold tooling experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with multi-shot tooling, including 2-shot or 3-shot rotary and index molds.
Experience with large tools for presses of 500 tons or more.
Experience with precision, multi-cavity, and family tooling, including valve gate, thermal gate, and cold runner manifold systems.
Experience with Autodesk Moldflow or similar mold flow analysis.
Plastics technology or plastics engineering focus in education or training.
Experience in the automotive industry, preferably with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier.
Working knowledge of APQP and PPAP.
Hands-on mold making or tool shop background.
Experience managing offshore tool builds, including in China or Europe.
Experience with scientific or decoupled molding principles.

Responsibilities

Review injection-molded part design concepts with design engineering for tooling feasibility, cavitation, and manufacturability, and recommend part or tool design changes.
Develop tooling estimates for cost, timing, cavitation, and press size, and solicit, compare, and recommend tool shop quotes.
Participate in part and tool design reviews and help finalize designs that meet customer requirements.
Kick off and track new injection mold tooling, lead tool design reviews with tool shops, approve tool design details, and ensure Sika molding standards are applied.
Set up and attend molding trials at domestic and international tool shops and in the plant; review tool and part dimensional layouts and drive corrections until the tool produces parts to print.
Partner with process engineering on setup, verification, and launch of new injection mold tools, including support for customer part approval (PPAP) requirements.
Serve on program launch teams and report tooling status, issues, timing, and cost.
Manage 20 or more concurrent tool builds from kickoff through production and track tooling spend against quotes and program budgets.
Manage engineering changes to existing tools, including scope, quotes, tool shop coordination, trials, and approval.
Provide technical oversight of production molds in collaboration with the tooling supervisor, tooling technicians, tool setters, and molding operators.
Assist process engineering and production with troubleshooting production tools; determine, schedule, track, and confirm corrective actions.
Maintain the history of mold maintenance and repairs for assigned tools and use it to guide repair, refurbishment, and replacement decisions.
Apply lessons learned from production tooling performance, including downtime, scrap, and repair trends, to new tool designs.
Develop and update Sika tooling standards as part of the tooling group.
Identify and implement tooling technologies and techniques that improve performance, cost, or lead time.
Follow plant safety requirements for mold handling, trials, and work around molding equipment.
Complete other tasks as assigned by the Launch Director.