Tooling Engineering Team Lead, NPI Readiness

PPG • Slymar, CA

4d • $100,000 - $122,500

About The Position

Lead the tooling function that powers new product launches Imagine starting your day by bringing a cross-functional team together around a Tier board. You scan the queue, weigh engineering complexity against NPI milestones, and set the pace. A machining issue surfaces on a composite tool—within minutes you guide a root-cause discussion, convert the solution into actionable tasks for engineers and technicians, and align design, manufacturing, and quality on next steps. By afternoon, you’re reviewing a design package for manufacturability, validating GD&T, and ensuring the tooling requirements are clear and executable. You close the day by coaching a technician through structured problem solving and updating standards so the next launch runs even smoother. What you’ll own Lead daily activities for a team of tooling engineers and technicians, acting as the technical escalation point for complex design, manufacturability, and process challenges. Prioritize work across programs using engineering complexity, NPI timelines, and production demand to guide scheduling. Run Tier boards and technical stand-ups to maintain alignment, remove blockers, and drive commitments. Execute high-level troubleshooting, perform root cause analysis, and steer design-based solutions. Define tooling requirements for NPI, review design packages, and ensure designs are production-ready. Translate engineering solutions into clear, executable tasks and verify correct implementation. Collaborate closely with design engineering, manufacturing engineering, and quality to resolve cross-functional issues. Build team capability via coaching, targeted engineering trainings, and structured problem solving. Continuously improve tooling design standards, documentation, and engineering workflows.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or related Engineering field (required).
• 3–5+ years in tooling, manufacturing, or design engineering.
• 2–3 years leading or supervising technical teams of engineers and technicians.
• Deep knowledge of hard/soft tooling, machining, fabrication, and composite tooling.
• Ability to provide engineering-level troubleshooting and guide DFM/MRB decisions.
• Proven planning, scheduling, and workload management across multiple programs.
• Experience using KPIs to drive continuous improvement at an engineering depth.
• Production Optimization
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
• CAD Software

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on support of NPI: tooling readiness and cross-functional engineering reviews.
• Experience with CAD, GD&T, design reviews, and validating tooling packages.
• History of leading safety, ergonomic, and process improvements.
• Mentorship mindset that grows engineering problem-solving capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily activities for a team of tooling engineers and technicians, acting as the technical escalation point for complex design, manufacturability, and process challenges.
• Prioritize work across programs using engineering complexity, NPI timelines, and production demand to guide scheduling.
• Run Tier boards and technical stand-ups to maintain alignment, remove blockers, and drive commitments.
• Execute high-level troubleshooting, perform root cause analysis, and steer design-based solutions.
• Define tooling requirements for NPI, review design packages, and ensure designs are production-ready.
• Translate engineering solutions into clear, executable tasks and verify correct implementation.
• Collaborate closely with design engineering, manufacturing engineering, and quality to resolve cross-functional issues.
• Build team capability via coaching, targeted engineering trainings, and structured problem solving.
• Continuously improve tooling design standards, documentation, and engineering workflows.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees