Position Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled, technically rigorous Senior Molding Technician to lead our injection molding floor operations. This role combines advanced technical expertise in scientific molding with floor leadership. The Senior Molding Technician directs the setup and processing crews, systematic troubleshooting of process drift, and coordinates cross-departmentally with Tooling, Quality, and Maintenance to maximize OEE and minimize scrap.
Key Responsibilities
Production Floor Leadership & Execution
· Crew Direction: Direct and mentor mold set up technicians, material handlers, and operators to ensure tool changes and production runs are executed efficiently with minimal downtime.
· Schedule Execution: Execute the daily production schedule in coordination with Production Planning; proactively communicate deviations, capacity constraints, or material bottlenecks to appropriate personnel.
· Personnel & Compliance: Coordinate with HR and the Plant Manager to ensure floor personnel issues are addressed promptly and a safe, productive work environment is maintained.
Process Engineering & Troubleshooting
· Process Optimization: Troubleshoot and correct complex molding process issues to ensure parts are produced to blueprint specifications within targeted cycle times.
· Process Monitoring: Continuously monitor production parameters against the established Master Process Card to eliminate process drift, minimize scrap rates, and prevent out-of-specification runs.
· Continuous Improvement: Partner with the Plant Manager, engineering, and setup crews to utilize Lean Manufacturing tools to reduce setup times (SMED), optimize cycles, and improve overall plant efficiency.
Cross-Functional Coordination
· Quality Control: Coordinate directly with Quality Control on non-conforming or out-of-specification parts; ensure all process corrections, deviations, and root causes are strictly documented.
· Tooling Department: Identify, document, and tag mold maintenance issues or damage; collaborate with the toolroom on engineering changes and potential tool design improvements.
· Equipment Maintenance: Notify the Maintenance Department of press or auxiliary equipment malfunctions and support the execution of the machinery's Preventative Maintenance (PM) program.
· Program Management: Coordinate with Program Managers to report, verify, and correct part documentation, bill of materials (BOM), or routing issues.
· Special Projects: Support auxiliary engineering projects, including new tool sampling (FAT/SAT), raw material trials, and product development runs.
Job Qualifications & Requirements
Required:
· Experience: 7+ years of hands-on technical experience in a production injection molding environment, with demonstrated experience directing setup crews and floor personnel.
· Language: Bilingual fluency in spoken English and Spanish is required to effectively direct floor staff and communicate across departments.
· Technical Aptitude: Mastery of Scientific Molding / Decoupled Molding principles, machine control interfaces, and the relationship between hydraulic/electric press parameters and polymer behavior.
· Material Expertise: Proven track record processing a wide variety of thermoplastics, with deep, specialized experience handling elastomeric compounds (TPE, TPU, etc.), including their unique drying, shear sensitivity, and shrinkage traits.
· Lean Manufacturing: Practical experience applying Lean principles (5S, root-cause analysis, SMED) on the production floor.
Preferred:
· ISO Compliance: Experience working within and maintaining audited ISO 9001 (or equivalent) quality management system processes and documentation procedures.
Here is the same thing in bullet point form in case this fits better:
Key attributes needed for this position are:
· Directs mold set-up technician, material handlers, and other production personnel to ensure jobs are set-up efficiently using the correct materials and parameters with minimal downtime/scrap.
· Troubleshoots and corrects molding process issues to ensure parts are run to specification and within the targeted cycle times.
· Monitors production processes to minimize scrap and correct out of specification molding parameters.
· Works with Plant Manager and set-up crew to improve overall efficiency of set-up and molding processes.
· Coordinates with Quality Control on out-of-specific parts to ensure issues are documents and corrections notated.
· Coordinate with Tooling Department on flagging mold maintenance issues and/or potential improvements.
· Coordinates with Program Manager to report and correct part documentation issues.
· Coordinates with Maintenance Department on equipment issues and supports in Preventative Maintenance program.
· Coordinates with Production Planning in executing production schedule and notifies appropriate personnel of deviations when needed.
· Executes production schedule in an efficient manner while maintaining a clean and productive work environment.
· Assists with production, material handling, tooling, equipment, and/or product development projects.
· Coordinate with HR to ensure all personnel issues are addressed in a timely manner.
· Experience working with and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures, 5S and root-cause analysis procedures.
Must have:
· Years of Experience: Minimum 7+ years of hands-on experience running machines in an injection molding production environment.
· Material Expertise: Proven track record running a wide variety of plastics, with specific, deep experience processing elastomeric compounds.
· Technical Aptitude: Advanced understanding of injection molding physics, scientific molding principles, machine controls, and hydraulic/electric press parameters.
· Leadership: Demonstrated senior-level experience managing technical floor staff (Techs, Handlers, Set-up crews).
· Lean Manufacturing Experience:
· Bilingual: Fluency in spoken English and Spanish is required.
Pay: $32.00 - $35.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Senior or lead molding tech: 7 years (Required)
Language:
- English and Spanish (Required)
Work Location: In person
