What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tooling Manager position at Connect Force?
- ️ Confidential Job Posting: Tooling Manager – Advanced Manufacturing
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Compensation: Approximately $85000 – $95000 (based on experience)( Hourly role plus Overtime)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Precision Manufacturing / Industrial Machinery
Lead the Teams That Drive Precision Manufacturing
Our confidential client is a global leader in advanced manufacturing technology , supporting automotive and industrial OEM customers around the world. As demand continues to grow, they are seeking a Tooling Manager to lead several critical technical teams responsible for tooling performance, abrasives, and process development.
This position is a high-impact leadership role reporting directly to the Director of Advanced Technology and serving as a key partner in driving operational success, technical innovation, and continuous improvement.
This individual will act as the right-hand technical leader for the Director while overseeing multiple teams responsible for maintaining production efficiency and product quality.
- ️ This is an urgent hire as the company continues to scale operations.
What You’ll Be Leading
The Tooling Manager will oversee approximately 15 employees across three technical departments :
Tooling Team – Responsible for tool design, repair, rework, and preventative maintenance
Abrasives Team – Responsible for procurement, maintenance, and production of precision diamond abrasives
Process Development (PD) Team – Responsible for honing and laser process development as well as job honing projects
Your leadership will ensure that tools, abrasives, and process technologies are optimized for performance, efficiency, and quality .
What You’ll Be Doing
Leadership & Team Development
Build, train, and mentor teams to achieve production and quality goals
Develop team capabilities and technical expertise across departments
Balance workflow and resources across multiple teams and priorities
Technical Oversight
Oversee tool design, repair, rework, and preventative maintenance programs
Support abrasive production and procurement processes
Oversee process development projects related to honing and laser applications
Act as the technical point of contact internally and externally
Operational Excellence
Implement continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce cost
Coordinate with engineering, quality, and production teams to resolve tooling challenges
Manage inventory, vendor relationships, and departmental budgets
Plan production activities and capacity to ensure delivery commitments are met
Customer Support
Travel to customer sites (up to 30% travel ) to support troubleshooting and technical discussions
Administrative Responsibilities
Establish maintenance procedures and documentation
Track KPIs related to quality, production, and delivery performance
Maintain organized reporting and operational documentation
What We’re Looking For
Leadership & Management
Proven ability to build, train, and develop high-performing teams
Experience balancing multiple technical departments and workflows
Technical Expertise
Strong knowledge of tooling design, repair, machining, and preventative maintenance
Experience working with CNC machines and precision measurement tools
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving ability in manufacturing environments
Professional Experience
5 years of leadership experience in tooling, machining, or manufacturing environments
Background in industrial machinery or precision manufacturing strongly preferred
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred (not required)
Work Environment
Manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery, noise, and temperature variations
Requires standing, walking, and lifting up to 50 lbs while following safety procedures
Typical plant schedule: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM , with frequent overtime including extended weekday hours and occasional half-day Saturdays .
Why This Role Is Unique
Direct partnership with senior technical leadership
Opportunity to lead three critical technical departments
Work within a highly specialized precision manufacturing environment
Strong opportunity to shape processes, teams, and technology
Competitive compensation and long-term career growth
Confidential Application Notice
This position is being handled confidentially by an external recruiting partner .
Company details will be shared with qualified candidates during the screening process
Salary : $85,000 - $95,000