Tooling Engineer | Injection Molding

Tooling Engineer | Injection Molding

Our client is a privately held U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in custom injection molding and full-service contract manufacturing for OEM customers across a wide range of industries, including medical devices, industrial equipment, automotive components, electronics, and automation systems. The company is known for its engineering expertise, ISO 9001-certified quality standards, comprehensive production capabilities-from design and tooling through molding, assembly, finishing, and testing-and its commitment to delivering complex manufacturing solutions that improve customer efficiency, quality, and speed to market.

Job Description

Evaluate customer products and part designs to identify manufacturability concerns, tooling risks, cost-reduction opportunities, and methods to improve quality and shorten lead times. Review and approve injection mold designs to ensure compliance with customer requirements, engineering specifications, and internal design standards. Schedule, facilitate, and lead project review meetings while maintaining overall oversight of project activities, deliverables, and milestones. Collaborate with tooling suppliers to manage the design, development, modification, and approval of injection molds, from concept through production release. Partner with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and administrative teams to support operational objectives and successful program launches. Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and suppliers, ensuring project deadlines, quality expectations, and performance objectives are consistently achieved. Utilize ERP, APQP, and project management systems to communicate project status, track progress, and maintain detailed project schedules and timelines. Develop customer quotations, cost analyses, tooling budgets, and subcontractor estimates for new tooling programs and tooling transfers. Manage project financial performance, including budget tracking, cost control, forecasting, and profitability analysis. Monitor and control project scope changes, ensuring schedule impacts, costs, and risks are appropriately documented, communicated, and resolved. Proactively identify project risks and issues, develop mitigation plans, resolve competing priorities, and escalate concerns when necessary. Coordinate all aspects of engineering changes and customer-driven modifications, including impacts to cost, quality, timing, and delivery commitments. Create and maintain project documentation, order entry records, and electronic project files throughout the program lifecycle. Ensure successful completion of tooling programs, including mold qualifications, tryouts, validation activities, and first article inspections. Coordinate procurement activities, supplier engagements, raw material requirements, and outside services to support project schedules and delivery commitments. Support additional engineering, project management, and continuous improvement initiatives as required.

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.

The Successful Applicant

A successful Tooling Engineer | Injection Molding should have:

• Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent experience in mold making, mold design, or tooling engineering may be considered.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in tooling engineering, mold making, or mold design within the plastics injection molding industry; alternatively, a relevant engineering degree and 3+ years of applicable experience.
• Strong knowledge of injection mold design, mold construction, thermoplastic and engineered resin materials, injection molding equipment, and molding processes.
• Experience using 3D CAD software for product and tooling design, with SolidWorks experience preferred
• Hands-on experience performing and interpreting Mold Flow Analysis (MFA) to support tooling and process development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical projects from concept through production launch, including schedule, budget, and risk management responsibilities.
• Familiarity with formal project management methodologies and project management software preferred.
• Project Management certification (PMP or equivalent) preferred.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional internal teams.
• Strong understanding of quality principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and manufacturing best practices.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality products, minimizing waste and production defects, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and drive projects to successful completion with minimal supervision.

What's on Offer

• Salary up to roughly $120k depending on experience
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• And More

Job summary: Sector: Engineering & Manufacturing. Sub Sector: Engineering Design and R&D. Industry: Industrial / Manufacturing. Where: Chicago. Contract Type: Permanent.