JOB TITLE: Tooling Lead
REPORTS TO: Tooling Supervisor
DEPARTMENT: Engineering
LOCATION: Charlotte, NC
PAY RANGE: $34.00 USD – $40.00 USD Hourly (will be based on experience, skills, and qualifications)
PAY/WAGE TYPE: Hourly| Non-Exempt
WORK HOURS: Full-time | Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM or 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (based on business needs). Occasional overtime, including weekends, may be required.
JOB SUMMARY
The Tooling Lead is responsible for overseeing daily toolmaking activities, including tooling setup, maintenance, repair, and changeovers, to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe manufacturing operations at Plaskolite. This role provides technical leadership and guidance to the tooling team, ensuring dies, and related tooling are manufactured, maintained, and repaired according to established quality and performance standards.
The Tooling Lead works closely with Production, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to coordinate tooling readiness, troubleshoots tooling-related issues, and support continuous improvement initiatives. This position plays a key role in maximizing equipment uptime, minimizing lead time for new tooling and product launches, ensuring consistent product quality, and promoting safe and efficient manufacturing practices and promoting Plaskolite’s “One Plaskolite” culture of collaboration, integrity, and operational excellence.
This position requires attention to detail, the ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and a strong commitment to safety, teamwork, and quality—reflecting Plaskolite’s core values of Integrity and Improvement.
ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manufacture plastic extrusion dies, tooling, jigs, and gauges from start to finish to support production requirements.
- Prepare raw stock and tooling blanks, including cutting, squaring, roughing, and finishing materials for machining operations.
- Operate manual machine shop equipment including mills, lathes, grinders, and drill presses.
- Program, set up, and operate 3-axis CNC milling machines for precision machining of tooling components.
- Program, set up, and operate Wire EDM equipment, including 4-axis cutting operations.
- Independently create CNC and EDM programs using CAM software.
- Utilize CAD/CAM tools to support tooling design modifications, machining programs, and manufacturing processes.
- Tool design at this level is limited to fixtures and work holding for parts being machined; participate in design discussions and shadow Sr. Tooling Lead and engineering on broader die design work.
- Interpret detailed engineering drawings, models, and technical specifications to ensure accurate tooling fabrication.
- Inspect machined components using precision measurement instruments to maintain tight tolerance and quality standards.
- Assemble, fit, and finish tooling components to production-ready condition.
- Work directly with extrusion production lines to understand tooling functionality and process requirements.
- Assist in troubleshooting performance issues during extrusion runs and implement corrective actions.
- Modify or adjust tooling to improve material flow, dimensional accuracy, and product quality during fabrication and after production feedback.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives to increase tooling life, reduce downtime, and improve workflow efficiency.
- Support capital projects, including installation, setup, and validation of new dies and tooling systems.
- Assist in the implementation of preventive maintenance programs for machine shop equipment.
- Support the maintenance department by manufacturing components related to extrusion equipment and tooling systems.
- Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas in compliance with 5S principles and company safety policies.
- Ensure compliance with all safety standards, machine operation procedures, and quality requirements.
- Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
- Engage with Production, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to ensure successful tooling performance and manufacturing efficiency.
- Promote and model Plaskolite’s "One Plaskolite" values by demonstrating teamwork, accountability, integrity, and a commitment to operational excellence.
- All other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
- Technical certificate, vocational training, or coursework in tooling, machining, maintenance, manufacturing technology, or a related field experience.
- Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in tooling, die/mold maintenance, machining, or a related manufacturing role; experience in a plastics or extrusion manufacturing environment preferred.
Skils and Competencies:
- Technical Expertise and Usage: Acquiring and applying technical knowledge in toolmaking, machining, and extrusion tooling fabrication.
- Attention to Detail: Taking responsibility for a thorough and detailed method of working when fabricating, assembling, and inspecting tooling components.
- Problem Solving: Identifying tooling and manufacturing process issues and finding effective solutions with limited guidance.
- Quality Orientation: Setting high standards for tooling work, evaluating procedures, and actively seeking ways to improve quality.
- Initiative: Spotting opportunities to improve tooling, processes, and shop practices and acting on them without prompting.
- Teamwork: Working as a productive member of the tooling, production, engineering, and maintenance teams.
- Accountability: Owning tooling outcomes, documentation accuracy, and follow-through on assigned work.
AVAILABLE BENEFITS
- Sign-On Bonus
- Health Insurance
- 401(k) and Employer Contribution
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Employee Discount Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Voluntary Life Insurance
ABOUT PLASKOLITE
PLASKOLITE is a global leader in manufacturing of engineering thermoplastics, including Acrylic, Polycarbonate, ABS, Olefin and PETG Sheet, Extruded Profiles and PMMA Polymers. Founded in 1950, by Donald Dunn and family, PLASKOLITE has a reputation for providing the highest quality products in the industry. Our innovative thermoplastic solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including glazing, safety shields, lighting, signs and point-of-purchase displays. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities throughout North America and Europe, Plaskolite delivers superior thermoplastic sheet, profiles, and polymers to the world through long-lasting customer relationships and hands-on customer service.
PLASKOLITE is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. If requested, the Company will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified individuals where appropriate to allow the ++individual to perform the essential functions of the job, so long as doing so does not create an undue hardship on the business.
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
- Technical certificate, vocational training, or related coursework/experience in tooling, machining, or manufacturing technology
- Minimum 5-7 years progressive experience in tooling, die/mold maintenance, or machining
- Experience in a plastics or extrusion manufacturing environment
- Program, set up, and operate 3-axis CNC milling machines
- Program, set up, and operate Wire EDM equipment including 4-axis cutting
- Independently create CNC and EDM programs using CAM software
- Proficiency with CAD/CAM tools to support tooling design modifications and machining programs
- Operate manual machine shop equipment (mills, lathes, grinders, drill presses)
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, models, and technical specifications
- Inspect machined components using precision measurement instruments and maintain tight tolerances
- Assemble, fit, finish tooling components and troubleshoot tooling during production
- Commitment to safety, 5S principles, and participation in preventive maintenance programs
What We Do
PLASKOLITE is the catalyst for thermoplastic innovation that accelerates transformation. A global manufacturer of engineering thermoplastics, including amorphous and crystalline sheet, extruded profiles and PMMA polymers, PLASKOLITE provides multi-material expertise, priority customization and responsive problem solving, helping customers simplify operations and reduce costs. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, PLASKOLITE operates facilities in the United States, Mexico, Chile, Israel, Bulgaria and Spain, giving customers reliable regional support and efficient supply chains. PLASKOLITE’s mission is to produce innovative engineering thermoplastics the right way; through long-lasting customer relationships, hands-on customer service and responsible manufacturing. Operating with a unique Run-to-Size program to eliminate scrap, while its optical injection molding and performance coating operations serve major industrial and commercial manufacturers worldwide. Founded in 1950 by Donald Dunn and now part of Pritzker Private Capital, PLASKOLITE solutions are sold to OEMs, DIY retailers, and a global network of plastics distributors serving safety, transportation, lighting, glazing, aerospace, data center semicon applications and more. PLASKOLITE is committed to long-term environmental progress through its sustainable ecosystem focused on what they make, how it’s manufactured, and how they’re used. This approach drives continuous improvement and supports thermoplastic solutions that enhance energy efficiency, safety, and quality of life. PLASKOLITE is guided by two core values: integrity and improvement. Integrity reflects a commitment to doing the right thing for our people, our products, and our place. Improvement drives us to continuously advance the way we work and the solutions we deliver, ensuring we provide the best for our people, our products, and our place.
.jpeg)
