The Tooling Technician supports safe, reliable, and efficient production by preparing, maintaining, repairing, organizing, and staging tooling used across extrusion lines. The role is responsible; ensuring that tooling is clean, serviceable, properly identified, and ready for scheduled changeovers. The technician works closely with Production and Maintenance to minimize downtime, optimize tooling rotation and machine setup, and address minor mechanical, basic electrical, and tooling issues.

Role and Responsibilities / Essential Functions 

• Organize and stage tooling for scheduled production runs and changeovers to maximize machine uptime and tooling rotation.
• Maintain clean, labeled, and accurate storage locations for dies, sizers, mixers, and related tooling; return items promptly to assigned inventory locations.
• Disassemble, clean, inspect, and reassemble tooling in preparation for production, repair, or storage.
• Perform light tooling maintenance and minor mechanical repairs, including cleaning, lubrication, hardware replacement, adjustment, and correction of minor wear when appropriate.
• Perform basic machining and fabrication tasks for minor tooling repairs or modifications, including measuring, drilling,
• tapping, deburring, grinding, and simple cutting or fitting using approved shop equipment.
• Perform basic electrical troubleshooting on tooling and auxiliary equipment, such as visual inspection of wiring and connections, and basic multimeter checks.
• Create maintenance requests and stage tooling for repair when work exceeds the technician's capability or authorization.
• Track tooling conditions, location, repair status, and readiness; communicate shortages, damage, or repair needs before they impact production.
• Maintain tooling and work areas to established housekeeping and 5S expectations.
• Safely operate a forklift to move and stage tooling and materials as required.
• Follow all safety procedures, including applicable lockout/tagout, PPE, and machine-guarding requirements, and support plant safety projects.

 Required Skills / Abilities / Competencies 

• Ability to read and interpret part numbers, work orders/job instructions, setup information, and basic tooling drawings. 
• Ability to use basic measurement and inspection tools, including tape measure, radius gauge, calipers, micrometer, and temperature gun.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with hands-on experience using hand tools, powered tools, and basic machine tools.
• Basic machining ability for simple drilling, tapping, deburring, grinding, cutting, and fitting.
• Basic electrical troubleshooting ability and understanding of electrical safety; capable of simple multimeter checks
• Strong organizational, prioritization, inventory-control, and attention-to-detail skills; able to maintain labeled storage locations and accurately track tooling status.
• Good communication, judgment, and teamwork skills with the ability to work independently and communicate repair or tooling needs clearly.
• Proficient CMMS software and computer skills
• Valid driver's license.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Education and Experience

• Must be legally entitled to work in the US.
• High school diploma or GED.
• 2+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with tooling, industrial maintenance, extrusion, fabrication, or basic machining preferred

Mental/Physical Requirements

• Regular standing, walking, lifting, bending, reaching, and handling of tooling and equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing and shop environment around moving equipment, tools, and production machinery