Mold Maker / Tool & Die Maker – Working Supervisor

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Mold Maker / Tool & Die Maker – Working Supervisor to lead and support tooling maintenance operations while remaining actively involved in hands-on repair, troubleshooting, and preventative maintenance of injection molds, press dies, and related equipment.

This is a hands-on leadership position requiring a strong technical background in mold making or tool and die making, combined with the ability to coordinate daily activities, guide team members, and ensure tooling reliability and production efficiency.

The successful candidate will oversee day-to-day tooling activities, prioritize maintenance requirements, support troubleshooting initiatives, and work closely with production, engineering, and maintenance teams. Experience in a Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment is preferred.

The role will also contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen and 5S activities, while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and operational performance.

Responsibilities
Supervisory & Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily activities within the mold maintenance and tooling department.

• Provide hands-on technical leadership while actively participating in mold repairs, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

• Assign tasks, establish priorities, and monitor work progress to ensure timely completion of maintenance activities.

• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentorship to mold makers, tool and die makers, and maintenance personnel.

• Coordinate tooling maintenance activities with production schedules to minimize downtime and operational disruptions.

• Monitor tooling performance and identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, and productivity.

• Collaborate with production, engineering, and maintenance teams to address tooling-related issues.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen and 5S activities.

• Maintain effective communication with internal departments and external suppliers.

Technical Responsibilities

• Repair and maintain injection molds, hot runner systems, press dies, machinery, and related tooling.

• Understand the mechanical structure and operation of molds and dies, including disassembly and assembly for repairs and preventative maintenance.

• Read and interpret blueprints, CAD drawings, tool drawings, schematics, and related technical documentation.

• Repair or replace defective components and perform cleaning, lubrication, inspection, and preventative maintenance.

• Verify dimensions, clearances, alignment, and component fit within tooling.

• Perform component fitting, including welding, filing, and other fabrication work.

• Add and maintain mold venting as required.

• Perform injection mold changeovers, including associated robotic systems.

• Connect and troubleshoot wiring, hydraulic lines, and pneumatic systems associated with tooling and equipment.

• Respond to emergency mold and tooling repairs to minimize production downtime.

• Perform dry-ice cleaning of tooling surfaces to maintain product quality and dimensional accuracy.

• Set up and operate machine tools, including lathes, milling machines, welders, drill presses, and surface grinders, to fabricate or repair components to specification.

• Inspect molds, dies, and components to identify causes of wear, damage, or failure.

• Assist with scheduling tooling preventative maintenance and coordinating activities with production requirements and affected product inventory.

• Procure spare parts and assist with maintaining spare-parts inventory for injection molds and press dies.

• Maintain 5S standards within the mold maintenance area.

• Support process engineers and technicians with troubleshooting activities.

• Participate in new tooling projects, trials, and commissioning activities.

• Provide support to maintenance personnel as required.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Experience & Skills

• Previous experience in a mold-making or tool-and-die-making role, preferably within an automotive manufacturing environment.

• Previous supervisory, team leadership, or working lead experience is strongly preferred.

• Strong hands-on experience repairing, maintaining, and troubleshooting injection molds, press dies, and related tooling.

• Ability to lead a team while remaining actively involved in day-to-day technical and maintenance activities.

• Strong understanding of tooling maintenance, preventative maintenance, and repair procedures.

• Ability to prioritize tasks based on production requirements, deadlines, and operational importance.

• Strong time-management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Ability to demonstrate a strong sense of urgency when responding to production and equipment issues.

• Adaptability to changing production demands and maintenance requirements.

• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.

• Resourceful and practical approach to identifying and resolving tooling issues.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across departments.

Education & Certification

• Licensed Journeyperson in Mold Making, Tool & Die Making, or another relevant skilled trade.

Travel

• Eligibility and willingness to travel within the United States is preferred but not required.

Candidate Preference

• Preference will be given to locally based candidates who can reliably commute to the facility.

• Candidates with Tier 1 automotive manufacturing experience and a combination of hands-on tooling expertise and supervisory capabilities are strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Dental care

• Extended health care

• On-site parking

• RRSP matching

• Vision care