Tooling & Machining Engineer

Tooling Engineer

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Responsible for the maintenance, repair, and refurbishment of production tooling through the use of manual lathes, mills, and cylindrical grinders to restore and maintain tooling components and cutting blades to operational standards. The role also includes the maintenance and inspection of die sets, setup and upkeep of CNC systems, and the ongoing management of jigs and fixture systems used across multiple production cells along with development of these for current and future products.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manual Machining and Tool Refurbishment:

• Operate manual machine tools including lathe, vertical mill, and cylindrical grinder to refurbish and maintain tooling and blade components.
• Evaluate tooling condition and carry out dimensional restoration and rework as required.
• Maintain records of tooling refurbishment, including measurements, wear assessments, and repair history.

Die Set Maintenance and Inspection:

• Perform routine and preventive maintenance on die sets, including disassembly, cleaning, inspection, and reassembly.
• Identify and rectify wear, damage, or misalignment in die components to prevent unplanned downtime.
• Assist with root cause analysis of die-related faults and contribute to corrective actions.

CNC Machine Setup and Maintenance:

• Set up, operate, and maintain Hurco CNC lathe and associated bar feed systems.
• Perform adjustments to tool offsets, feeds, and speeds to maintain consistent product quality and optimise cycle times.
• Conduct periodic checks and coordinate maintenance of CNC equipment to ensure reliability.

Production CNC System Support:

• Provide support for CNC production equipment utilising Fanuc controls.
• Perform basic diagnostics, machine adjustments, and process checks during production.
• Assist in minor program edits to optimise cycle times and reduce tool wear.

Jigs and Fixture Systems:

• Responsible for the maintenance, inspection, repair and overhaul of jigs and fixture systems used across various production cells.
• Assess fixture wear, alignment, and operational condition, and perform necessary repairs or adjustments.
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to improve fixture functionality and support process stability.

Technical Support:

• Provide engineering technical support to a range of mechanical and process issues suggesting changes or improvements where necessary to include some maintenance work where necessary.
• Responsible for setup and upkeep of onsite tool room area including housekeeping, stock management of cutting tools and spare parts and
• Optimisation of existing processes and equipment and where appropriate develop suggestions for areas of improvement either through changes to existing methods or through addition of new equipment or systems.

General:

• Maintain a clean, organised, and safe work environment in accordance with company safety procedures.
• Ensure all work is performed to defined quality standards and within required timelines as agreed with through daily alignment with engineering and operational leadership teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management, including participation in special projects or cross-functional support activities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proficient in manual machining (lathe, mill, cylindrical grinding).
• Experience in die set maintenance and inspection in a manufacturing setting.
• Hands-on experience with Hurco CNC machines and bar feed equipment. Including setup of tool turret/carrousels and bar feed system programming.
• Familiarity with Fanuc CNC controls and basic troubleshooting.
• Competent in the maintenance and functional assessment of jigs and fixture systems.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and tolerance specifications.
• Good understanding of CNC programming and machine operation practices.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently.

Education and Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree in machining, toolmaking, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a tooling, machining, or maintenance role.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery, noise, lubricants, and metal particulates.
• Regular physical activity required including standing, lifting, bending, and manual handling of tooling components.
• Use of PPE is mandatory and must comply with all site safety policies.