Principal Injection Mold Tooling Engineer – Encapsulated Glazing Systems

Magna Glass

  • Holland, MI
  • 3 days ago

    Highlights

    Partner with Designers, Program Managers, Tooling Suppliers, and Project Engineers to confirm draft, shut-offs, retention geometry, gaging datums, and warp/shrink predictions meet customer specs. CAE, materials, and testing Direct Moldflow/CAE to analyze flow around glass, knit/adhesion risks, cooling of non-uniform walls, and polymer stress transfer to glass edges.

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationHolland, MI

    Description

    Principal Injection Mold Tooling Engineer – Encapsulated Glazing Systems

    Do you architect molds that make complex glass encapsulation look simple? Can you spot gate-induced stress risks at a glance and still keep a launch on time and on budget? If your answer is yes, Magna Engineered Glass wants you to lead world-class tooling for encapsulated automotive windows.

    What you'll take point on

    • Standards and supplier excellence
      • Own and deploy corporate standards for encapsulation tooling.
      • Build a bench of qualified toolmakers—domestic and international—skilled in vertical presses, robotic glass loading, and automated demold.
    • Process innovation
      • Engineer and validate: encapsulation overmold, dynamic pressure pad systems, magnetized bezel/stiffener insert molding, and soft-seal tooling with integrated fixturing.
      • Lead rigorous design reviews: parting, gating/runners (hot + cold), steel selection, shrink, cooling, and texture specs.
      • Ensure glass edge protection, dimensional stability, adhesion, and sealing are designed-in; manage full data retention (2D/3D, CMM, process sheets, hot runner/manifold and material records).
    • Design for manufacturability
      • Evaluate new quotes for feasibility: glass edge tolerance/flatness, cross-sections (seals, beads, retention), adhesion/bonding needs, and gate effects on stress in glass and polymer.
      • Partner with Designers, Program Managers, Tooling Suppliers, and Project Engineers to confirm draft, shut-offs, retention geometry, gaging datums, and warp/shrink predictions meet customer specs.
    • Builds, trials, and launch
      • Create/approve quotes, manage timing, conduct supplier visits, and hit PPAP milestones.
      • Lead sampling—validate glass loading, sealing, adhesion/peel; debug short shots, flash, sinks, voids, and stress marks.
      • Verify with CMM layouts, fixture checks, and encapsulation profile conformance; approve texture (grain) and surface quality.
      • Release spares and PM plans; identify critical spare steel; support packaging, racking, and gage design reviews.
    • CAE, materials, and testing
      • Direct Moldflow/CAE to analyze flow around glass, knit/adhesion risks, cooling of non-uniform walls, and polymer stress transfer to glass edges.
      • Maintain materials portfolio: TPE, PVC, PC/ABS, TPU, and specialty encapsulation compounds.
      • Assess supplier tryout equipment and process capability; support testing—adhesion pulls, weathering/UV, thermal cycling/expansion mismatch—and solve delamination, cracking, warp, and dimensional issues.
      • Participate in supplier evaluations post-project.
    • Documentation and continuous improvement
      • Document technical decisions, tool changes, sampling, and validation; keep timing and status current; generate cost/variance reports and support budgets/forecasts.
      • Advance new tech: hot runners for hybrid materials, glass-contact tool steels, adhesion-promoting treatments; introduce TPE, low-gloss PVC, PC/ABS, and future compounds.
      • Publish/update work instructions and quality procedures; train Tool Room teams on maintenance, repair, PM frequency, and safe glass mold handling.
    • Safety and compliance
      • Follow Magna Engineered Glass safety policies and environmental regulations.
      • Meet ISO/IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 requirements; complete all safety/environmental training.
    • Team contribution
      • Pitch in beyond your core scope and help maintain a positive, adaptable culture.

    You’ll thrive here if you bring

    • BS in Engineering or similar preferred (equivalent experience considered).
    • 8+ years in tooling/plastics/program engineering in manufacturing; deep expertise in injection molding of encapsulated automotive glass.
    • Advanced injection mold design and polymer processing knowledge; strong Moldflow/CAE skills.
    • Mastery of glass handling/fixturing, polymer-to-glass adhesion, overmold material selection, and mold strategies for encapsulated windows.
    • Track record leading complex multi-tool programs, managing suppliers, and owning budgets.
    • Capacity to run multiple programs while hitting quality, timing, and cost targets.
    • Ability to interpret drawings/CAD/tooling layouts; communicate and document clearly; drive continuous improvement and long-term strategy.
    • Knowledge of manufacturing safety standards; English fluency required, Spanish preferred.

    Work setting and travel

    • Office 60% / Plant 40%.
    • Frequent computer use requiring near/far/depth/color vision; keyboard/mouse ~6 hours/day.
    • Plant exposure to machinery, moving equipment/materials, moderate noise, airborne particles/fumes, and temperature variation.
    • Travel 5–10% to suppliers or other sites, domestic and international.

    Physical realities of the role

    • Extended periods of sitting/standing; walking and bending required.
    • Stand up to 8–12 hours/day.
    • Lift up to 40 lbs multiple times daily.
    • Repetitive bending, twisting, turning, and lifting; repeated hand use (grip, grasp, pinch, squeeze).

    Core competencies

    • Leadership in encapsulation tooling.
    • Design review, manufacturability, and tooling problem-solving expertise.
    • Cross-functional and supplier communication.
    • Systems thinking across glass, polymer, and tooling.

    Technical proficiencies

    • Automotive Manufacturing Systems
    • Launch
    • Product Development
    • Tooling

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