Tooling Manager

Tool & Mold Manager

Location: Southern California

Are you a seasoned tooling expert ready to lead a high-impact team and drive innovation across complex molding operations? EPS Connects is seeking a Tool & Mold Manager to own the full lifecycle of tooling—from design and fabrication to qualification, optimization, and maintenance—while shaping best practices across multiple manufacturing sites.

In this key leadership role, you’ll guide a skilled team of tool makers, machinists, designers, and engineers, ensuring tools and molds meet world-class standards of safety, quality, reliability, and performance. You’ll also partner closely with cross-functional teams to deliver new tooling solutions, improve manufacturing processes, and support rapid growth across the organization.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the complete lifecycle of tools and molds: design, development, qualification, production, and maintenance.
• Maintain an organized and efficient Tool & Mold department using 5S principles and proactive maintenance programs.
• Ensure a safe and compliant work environment while managing all department safety initiatives.
• Collaborate with R&D, NPI, and Operations to understand tooling needs and maintain a shared project queue.
• Provide accurate cost and timing estimates, support capital requests, and manage tooling purchase orders.
• Determine insourcing vs. outsourcing strategies to maximize value and minimize spend.
• Oversee internal and external tooling projects to ensure timelines and budgets are met.
• Lead advanced design reviews, steel adjustments, and construction of high-performance tools and molds.
• Drive DFM analysis and tool strategies that enhance production efficiency and product quality.
• Support mold process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PPAP methodology, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Troubleshoot tooling issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Execute preventative maintenance programs to reduce downtime and extend tool life.
• Analyze tooling data and present meaningful insights to stakeholders.
• Develop workflows, work instructions, and parameter standards for tooling optimization.
• Recruit, mentor, and grow a talented team of makers, machinists, designers, and engineers.
• Manage departmental budgets and identify cost-saving opportunities through tool reliability and new technologies.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.
• Ability to travel domestically is required

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree or completion of a four-year toolmaking apprenticeship.
• 5+ years engineering experience and 8+ years injection mold tooling experience (design, fabrication, operation, troubleshooting).
• 3+ years supervisory or management experience, ideally in an ISO-regulated environment; GMP experience strongly preferred.
• Expertise in the full tooling lifecycle and standards such as DIN, ISO, ASTM, ASME, and SAE.
• Strong shop math abilities and hands-on technical expertise in injection molding; experience in silicone molding, over-molding, blow molding, and additional tooling methods a plus.
• Deep understanding of materials, machining processes, and manufacturing principles.
• Proficiency in CAD/CAM and CNC programming; mold flow analysis experience highly desirable.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively with international suppliers and accommodate global time zones.
• Valid California driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Why This Role Matters

This is a high-visibility opportunity to elevate tooling excellence across a growing manufacturing organization. Your leadership will directly influence product quality, operational efficiency, cost savings, and time-to-market—making a measurable impact on company success.