Senior Tool & Die Repair Technician/Toolmaker

Location: This position is on-site at our Taylor, MI facility.

Schedule

This position is dayshift Monday -  Friday. In some instances, this position requires some overtime hours.

Position Purpose

The Senior Tool & Die Repair Technician / Toolmaker is responsible for full lifecycle ownership of production tooling. This includes advanced troubleshooting, repair, rebuild, preventative maintenance, continuous improvement, and optimization of dies, tooling, jigs, and fixtures used in manufacturing operations. This role is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, technical judgment, and accountability, while supporting production performance, quality requirements, safety standards, and long-term asset reliability.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Diagnose complex tooling failures including misfeeds, galling, wear, dimensional variation, breakage, and performance degradation.
• Independently repair, rebuild, and optimize tooling components including punches, die sections, strippers, lifters, cams, springs, and die shoes.
• Apply advanced machining, grinding, welding, fitting, polishing, and heat-treatment coordination techniques.
• Identify root causes and implement permanent corrective actions rather than temporary fixes.

Preventive Maintenance & Tooling Asset Management

• Own preventative maintenance execution and tooling condition monitoring.
• Proactively replace high-risk components to prevent downtime.
• Track tooling wear trends and recommend design or process improvements.
• Support spare parts strategies and long-term tooling reliability planning.

Machining & Fabrication

• Operate and set up surface grinders, milling machines (manual/CNC), lathes, EDM (where applicable), and support equipment.
• Manufacture replacement or new tooling from prints or CAD data.
• Maintain tolerances commonly ±0.0005" or tighter when required.
• Apply GD&T concepts and precision measurement best practices.

Production & Cross-Functional Support

• Serve as a technical escalation resource for production tooling issues.
• Support press setup, die alignment, and troubleshooting.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Production teams.
• Support new tooling launches, changes, transfers, and validation.

Continuous Improvement & Leadership

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to tooling reliability and performance.
• Mentor and support development of less experienced toolmakers or technicians.
• Participate in kaizen, root-cause analysis, and standardization efforts.
• Promote 5S, safety, and professional workmanship standards.

Safety, Documentation & Systems

• Lead by example in safety compliance (LOTO, PPE, guarding).
• Maintain detailed tooling documentation and maintenance records.
• Utilize CMMS or tooling management systems as required.
• Communicate tooling risk and improvement recommendations to leadership.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced mechanical and tooling aptitude.
• High-precision measurement and tolerance control.
• Blueprint and engineering drawing interpretation.
• Ability to manage priorities independently.
• Strong communication and professionalism.

Education & Experience

• Journeyman Tool & Die Maker, formal apprenticeship, or equivalent experience.
• 5 years progressive tool and die or tooling repair experience in manufacturing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressive, transfer, or line die experience.
• High-speed stamping press knowledge (Minster, Aida, Komatsu, Stamtec).
• EDM experience.
• TIG/MIG welding and tool steel repair.
• CNC machining and GD&T proficiency.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Manufacturing and toolroom setting.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Extended standing, bending, kneeling, and precision work.
• Off-shift or overtime support may be required.