What are the responsibilities and job description for the Toolroom Toolmaker -- Manual Machining Specialist position at Express Employment Professionals - Winona?
Location: Winona, MN
Role Type: Direct-hire, union
Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday–Thursday (four 10-hour shifts)
Starting Pay: $30.22/hour (shift differentials available)
A day in the tool roomYou clock in, review a stack of varied work orders, and grab your notes from yesterday’s setup. A worn die needs a precise touch on the manual mill. A fixture requires a tweak at the lathe. Between operations, you collaborate with a veteran teammate who’s been perfecting this craft for decades. By mid-day, you’ve interpreted multiple prints, made careful adjustments, and kept the tool room humming. It’s steady, satisfying work—done alongside people who know your name and ask about your family.
Why this role stands out- Direct-hire, union environment with a close-knit, highly skilled team
- Four-day work week for work-life balance
- Grow your craft with pros who have 30–46 years of experience
- Fabricate, modify, and repair tooling, dies, and fixtures on manual lathes and mills
- Read and interpret blueprints and technical drawings to plan precise operations
- Perform maintenance, rebuilds, and repairs on machines and tooling
- Execute diverse work orders across a range of machining setups
- Contribute to a fast-paced, supportive tool room culture
- Hands-on manual machining experience
- Proficiency operating a manual lathe and/or mill
- Reliability, attention to detail, and consistent attendance
- Willingness to work any of three shifts after training (see details below)
- Welding experience
- Machine rebuilding or repair background
- Heat treat experience
- Technical degree or trade certification (helpful, not required)
Four 10-hour shifts, Monday–Thursday
- 1st Shift: 5:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Base rate
- 2nd Shift: 3:00 PM – 1:00 AM | $4.00/hr differential
- 3rd Shift: 9:00 PM – 7:00 AM | $4.00/hr differential
- Weeks 1–6: Start on 1st shift for onboarding
- Months 2–6: Train on the shift your trainer works (may include 2nd or 3rd)
- After training: Placed on the shift with an opening per union seniority rules
Important: Shift assignments are governed by the union contract. You will not be able to choose your shift after training, and declining your assigned shift is not an option. As your seniority builds over time, your ability to select preferred shifts increases.
Compensation and development- Starting wage: $30.22/hr
- Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000/year after 1 year of service
People build long careers here. The tool room is tight-knit and proud of the work. Expect monthly lunches, Easter egg hunts, Christmas parties, and a family-oriented supervisor who rose through the trades and is respected by all. The best fit shows up, takes notes, asks thoughtful questions, and learns from the best.
Your toolkit- Manual Machining Skills
Machines & technologies you’ll use:
- MIG Welder
- Manual Lathe
- CNC Mill (5 axis VMC)
Submit an application or call the Express Employment office at 507-457-3311!