Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Indexable Cutting Tools
Full or Part Time Position
Location: Flushing, Michigan
We are seeking a highly experienced Mechanical Design Engineer with strong CNC machining and indexable cutting tool experience. This role is ideal for an engineer who understands both the design and application of precision cutting tools and can support custom tooling, quoting, manufacturability, and customer-driven solutions.
The ideal candidate will have deep practical knowledge of indexable tooling, metal cutting applications, machining processes, and cost drivers. Experience with estimating and quoting special indexable tools is strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
- Design custom and indexable cutting tools used in precision CNC machining applications.
- Develop tooling concepts from customer RFQs, part prints, application data, and machining requirements.
- Create CAD models, drawings, and engineering documentation for production release.
- Review RFQs, prints, GD&T, material specifications, machine capabilities, and process requirements.
- Select and recommend appropriate indexable tooling solutions for turning, milling, drilling, grooving, threading, and boring applications.
- Prepare or support accurate cost estimates and quotations for both special tooling and standard indexable products.
- Work closely with sales, applications, customers, manufacturing, quality, and vendors to confirm feasibility, lead times, cost, and performance expectations.
- Support tooling recommendations based on workpiece material, setup rigidity, coolant application, machine horsepower, production volume, tool life, and cost per part.
- Ensure designs meet performance, cost, manufacturability, and delivery requirements.
- Help improve quote accuracy, response time, margin performance, and quote win rate.
Core Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience with indexable cutting tools; 10+ years preferred.
- Experience designing indexable cutting tools such as boring bars, milling cutters, turning tools, grooving tools, threading tools, cartridges, form tools, or similar precision tooling.
- Strong understanding of metal cutting processes, CNC machining applications, and tooling performance.
- Ability to interpret and evaluate part prints, GD&T, material specifications, machine capabilities, and process requirements.
Strong knowledge of key machining and cost drivers, including:
- Speeds and Feeds
- Tool life
- Cycle time
- Cost per part
- Insert grade and geometry selection
- Setup rigidity
- Coolant application
- Machine horsepower and limitations
- Strong proficiency with SolidWorks, AutoCAD or equal
- Strong design aptitude with the ability to apply CAD/CAM knowledge to real-world manufacturing challenges.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Preferred Background
- Experience working for a cutting tool manufacturer, cutting tool distributor, or precision machining company.
- Experience quoting both special tooling and standard indexable products.
- Familiarity with aerospace, medical, automotive, defense, or general machining applications.
- Practical shop-floor experience or strong exposure to CNC machining operations.
- Experience supporting outside sales, applications engineering, and customer technical discussions.
- ERP, CRM, and Excel proficiency for quote development, tracking, and follow-up.
- Knowledge of insert nomenclature, carbide grades, coatings, chip breakers, clamping systems, coolant-through tooling, and tool failure analysis.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or industrial engineering
- Experience designing indexable cutting tools
- Strong proficiency with SolidWorks and AutoCAD
- Understanding of metal cutting processes and machining applications
- Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
ARCH (archglobalprecision.com) Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about ARCH (archglobalprecision.com) and has not been reviewed or approved by ARCH (archglobalprecision.com).
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision across business units, with some locations starting eligibility on the first day. Life and disability coverage are commonly included, and options like HSA/FSA and mental health support appear in certain units.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with company match is present in many roles and locations. Job materials emphasize retirement savings as part of the total rewards package.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — An Employee Assistance Program and mental health resources are described alongside standard coverages at several sites. Paid holidays and PTO complement these offerings.
ARCH (archglobalprecision.com) Insights
What We Do
American Manufacturing, Serving the World We are driven by precision. Our engineering expertise and precision-machining capabilities serve the medical, aerospace and defense, and industrial markets. We offer a synergy of resources to reduce your manufacturing costs, optimize the performance of your components and products, and cut your supply chain risks. ARCH has multiple state-of-the-art facilities that manufacture high-quality cutting tools, precision-machined components, and products. Working with ARCH, your business gains the advantage of an expanding range of cutting-edge resources for all your precision-machining needs. Our facilities are strategically located across the U.S. to optimize your outsourced precision-machining needs. We strive to be your trusted and proactive partner. ARCH is structured to provide the capacity, flexibility, and scalability you need to succeed. We offer design-for-manufacturability, prototyping, on-site application testing, program management, technical support, and customized services. The rise of American manufacturing requires the support of highly evolved and collaborative precision-machining partners. Our comprehensive experience in critical part production across a broad range of applications allows us to provide a dynamic range of solutions. We truly understand the critical nature of the components and products we work with and are intently focused on delivering exacting quality to our customers, and ultimately to their customers. We combine leading-edge expertise and industry standards to ensure consistent quality at every step. To maintain our leading edge, we invest in the continuous improvement of our manufacturing and quality assurance processes. The sharing of knowledge, technologies, and best practices across our teams strengthens our competitive advantage, accounting for performance breakthroughs, value creation, and cost containment.
