SL06 - Senior Tooling Engineer - Seats

Job Title: Senior Tooling Engineer - Seats

Location: Warsaw, Indiana.

JOB DESCRIPTION

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The Senior Tooling Engineer of Seats Production is responsible for the design, development, sourcing, validation, and launch support of production tooling used in manufacturing operations. This role supports new product introductions and capacity expansions by ensuring tooling solutions meet requirements for quality, safety, ergonomics, cost, and cycle time. The Tooling Engineer works cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, automation, and suppliers to deliver robust, production-ready tools and fixtures while driving continuous improvement throughout the tooling lifecycle.

| WHAT YOU GET TO DO:

Tool Design & Development

• Design jigs, fixtures, and tools for manufacturing processes.
• Ensure tooling meets product specifications, tolerances, and quality standards.
• Collaborate with product and process engineers for Design for Manufacturability (DFM).

Tool Procurement & Vendor Management

• Source tooling from suppliers and manage RFQs.
• Evaluate and select vendors based on cost, quality, and lead time.
• Oversee tool fabrication and delivery to meet program timelines.

Tool Validation & Approval

• Conduct tool trials and validate performance against design requirements.
• Perform dimensional checks and ensure compliance with requirements.
• Approve tooling for production after successful validation.

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Develop preventive maintenance plans for tools and dies.
• Troubleshoot tooling issues during production and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure tool life management and replacement planning.

Cost & Efficiency Optimization

• Analyze tooling costs and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Optimize tool design for cycle time reduction and durability.
• Support continuous improvement projects related to tooling.

New Program Launch Support

• Participate in program launch meetings and ensure tooling readiness.
• Coordinate tooling changes for engineering updates.
• Provide technical support during pilot builds and ramp-up.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

Education & Experience

• 12+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing and a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field or 8 years with Master's degree, or 5 years with PhD or equivalent experience
• Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and ERP systems.
• Automotive OEM experience preferred.
• Experience with Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing.

Skills

• Proven leadership skills and ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of trim line processes and automotive interior components.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production planning software

Working Conditions

• Manufacturing plant environment
• Exposure to moving machinery and industrial noise
• May require shift work (days, nights, weekends)