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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for CNC Tooling Engineer

💰 $70,000 - $110,000

ManufacturingEngineeringCNCToolingProcess Improvement

🎯 Role Definition

The CNC Tooling Engineer is responsible for designing, specifying, validating and sustaining the tooling, fixtures, cutting tools and CNC programming strategies used to produce precision components on mills, lathes and multi-axis machining centers. This role partners cross-functionally with process engineering, production, quality, purchasing and design engineering teams to reduce cycle time, improve first-pass yield, lower tool cost-per-part and enable new product introductions. Core responsibilities include fixture and tool design (CAD/CAM), CAM programming and post‑processing (Mastercam, Siemens NX, Fusion 360 or equivalent), G‑code optimization, tool life and holder selection, root-cause investigation of tooling-related failures, and implementation of continuous improvement/lean projects to increase throughput and stability.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • CNC Machinist / Set‑up Technician with strong tooling experience
  • Toolmaker or Tool & Die Maker transitioning to engineering responsibilities
  • Manufacturing or Process Engineer with CNC expertise

Advancement To:

  • Senior CNC Tooling Engineer / Lead Tooling Engineer
  • Process Engineering Manager / Manufacturing Engineering Manager
  • Production Engineering Director or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Engineer (metrology & FAI focus)
  • Product/Design Engineer (DFM/DFMA focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the design, development and validation of jigs, fixtures, workholding and custom tooling using CAD (SolidWorks / Creo / Fusion 360) to meet manufacturing tolerances, ergonomics and throughput targets.
  • Create, optimize and maintain CAM programs and post-processors for multiple machine platforms (Mastercam, Siemens NX, Fusion 360, HSM) ensuring efficient toolpaths, collision avoidance and accurate G‑code output.
  • Select and specify cutting tools, toolholders, collets and inserts (carbide end mills, drills, taps, indexable tools) based on material, part geometry and cycle time requirements; negotiate technical terms with suppliers to drive cost and lead-time improvements.
  • Develop and maintain tooling standards, tooling bills of materials (BOMs) and 2D/3D tooling drawings; control revision history and ensure documentation is available in PLM/ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent).
  • Conduct tool trials, first article inspections (FAI) and process validation runs to verify tooling performance, surface finish, dimensional stability and process capability (Cp/Cpk).
  • Perform detailed tooling failure analysis and root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5 Whys, DMAIC); create corrective action plans and implement preventive countermeasures.
  • Optimize machining processes for cycle time reduction and scrap minimization through tooling geometry, toolpath strategy, depth-of-cut/feed adjustments and spindle/speed optimization.
  • Create and maintain detailed setup sheets, tool lists, work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for production operators and toolroom personnel.
  • Drive continuous improvement projects (Lean, Kaizen) focused on tooling changeover time reduction, single‑piece flow enablement, and minimizing setup variability across shifts.
  • Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by collaborating with Design Engineering to ensure manufacturability, recommending design adjustments for tooling access, fixturing, and assembly.
  • Implement predictive and preventive tooling maintenance plans, tool life monitoring strategies and tooling inventory optimization to reduce unplanned downtime.
  • Mentor and train operators, set‑up technicians and junior engineers on proper tooling selection, setup techniques, run‑off procedures and safety best practices.
  • Evaluate and qualify external tooling and fixture vendors; run capability studies and supplier audits to ensure consistent quality, lead-time and cost performance.
  • Use GD&T and advanced blueprint reading to translate design intent into fixturing and inspection strategies that ensure conformance to print tolerances.
  • Develop and manage tooling budgets, cost‑of‑goods analyses and ROI studies for capital tooling investments, balancing tooling life, chipping rates and per‑part tooling cost.
  • Integrate automation and robotic loading/unloading considerations into tooling designs to support lights‑out machining and high-mix, low-volume production scenarios.
  • Collaborate with Quality and Metrology teams to develop in-process inspection and SPC plans tied to tooling performance metrics and corrective actions.
  • Standardize tooling families and modular fixture concepts to shorten changeover, reduce spare tooling catalogs and simplify operator instruction sets.
  • Maintain cross-platform CNC program libraries, tool crib records and master tooling database to ensure rapid deployment and reproducibility across machines and facilities.
  • Lead cross‑functional design reviews and PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) sessions focused on tooling risk, accessibility and process control measures.
  • Monitor and report tooling KPIs (tool cost per part, tool life hours, setups per shift, first-pass yield) and present findings to engineering leadership with action plans for improvement.
  • Ensure tooling designs and operations comply with safety standards, ergonomics guidelines and company policies; incorporate guarding and safe changeover procedures where required.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain tooling inventory levels and reorder points, coordinating purchases and lead time reductions with Purchasing.
  • Support ad-hoc engineering requests such as CAD model updates, tolerance clarifications and emergency run fixes to minimize production impact.
  • Contribute to capital tooling proposals, costing and business cases for approvals by senior management.
  • Prepare and deliver tooling-related training materials, shop floor demonstrations and capacity planning input for scheduling teams.
  • Assist cross-functional teams in supplier development, cost-down initiatives and standardization of cutting tool families.
  • Participate in continuous improvement and safety committees; champion tooling-related lean events on the shop floor.
  • Help maintain and improve the tooling knowledge base and searchable documentation for global manufacturing locations.
  • Provide technical input to quotations and feasibility studies for new contracts involving CNC machined parts.
  • Support troubleshooting of intermittent machine-tool issues where tooling dynamics (vibration, chatter) are suspected.
  • Coordinate with maintenance and machine builders on retrofit projects for tool changer improvements, coolant delivery and spindle upgrades.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced CNC Tooling Design: fixture, jig and custom workholding design using SolidWorks, Creo or Fusion 360.
  • CAM Programming Proficiency: expert-level experience with Mastercam, Siemens NX, Fusion 360, or equivalent CAM systems.
  • G‑code and Post‑Processor Knowledge: ability to read, edit and optimize G‑code and configure post-processors for multi-axis machines.
  • Cutting Tool Technology: deep knowledge of carbide tooling, indexable inserts, coatings, regrinding processes, and tool-life management.
  • GD&T & Blueprint Interpretation: proficient in applying geometric dimensioning and tolerancing to tooling and fixture design.
  • Metrology & Inspection: experience with CMM, micrometers, calipers, gauges and in-process measurement techniques.
  • Fixture Analysis & FEA Familiarity: capability to evaluate fixture stiffness, clamping forces and basic FEA for high‑accuracy tooling.
  • CAM-to-Machine Integration: experience validating code on FANUC, Heidenhain, Siemens or Haas controllers and resolving kinematic issues.
  • ERP/PLM Tooling Data Management: experience with SAP, Oracle, Teamcenter, or similar systems to manage tooling BOMs and revisions.
  • Lean/Continuous Improvement Tools: practical application of Kaizen, 5S, SMED, TPM and DMAIC for tooling and process improvement.
  • Root Cause Analysis: 8D, 5 Why and corrective action implementation specific to tooling failures and machining defects.
  • Material & Machinability Knowledge: experience selecting tooling strategies for steels, stainless, aluminum, titanium and exotic alloys.
  • CNC Machine Process Understanding: familiarity with multi-axis machining strategies, toolchanger mechanics, and spindle dynamics.
  • Costing & ROI Analysis: ability to model tooling cost per part, amortize expensive tooling and justify capital tooling spend.
  • Robotics & Automation Integration: knowledge of end-of-arm tooling considerations for automated loading/unloading or pallet systems.

Soft Skills

  • Strong cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management with Production, Quality, Purchasing and Design teams.
  • Clear written and verbal communication for creating setup documents, training materials and executive presentations.
  • Analytical and structured problem solving with attention to detail and data-driven decision making.
  • Project management and time prioritization to manage multiple NPI and sustainment projects concurrently.
  • Coaching and mentoring skills to upskill operators, toolroom staff and junior engineers.
  • Adaptability and continuous learning mindset to keep pace with new tooling technologies and machining strategies.
  • Customer-focus orientation to resolve production issues quickly and maintain delivery commitments.
  • Influence and negotiation skills for supplier technical discussions and cost reduction programs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree or technical diploma in Machining Technology, Tool & Die, Manufacturing Technology or equivalent vocational training with demonstrated tooling experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering or related engineering discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering / Technology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Tool & Die / Machinist Apprenticeship

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 – 8 years of hands‑on CNC tooling, fixture design and CAM programming experience in a production environment.

Preferred: 5+ years of progressive tooling engineering experience with demonstrated success in NPI, tooling cost reduction, CAM programming, and cross‑functional leadership. Certifications such as SolidWorks Certified Professional, Mastercam Certification, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or Lean credentials are a plus.

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