Senior Tooling Engineer, Seats Production

Slate Auto•Warsaw, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. | WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR: The Senior Tooling Engineer of Seats Production is responsible for the design, development, sourcing, validation, and launch support of production tooling used in manufacturing operations. This role supports new product introductions and capacity expansions by ensuring tooling solutions meet requirements for quality, safety, ergonomics, cost, and cycle time. The Tooling Engineer works cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, automation, and suppliers to deliver robust, production-ready tools and fixtures while driving continuous improvement throughout the tooling lifecycle. | WHAT YOU GET TO DO: Tool Design & Development Design jigs, fixtures, and tools for manufacturing processes. Ensure tooling meets product specifications, tolerances, and quality standards. Collaborate with product and process engineers for Design for Manufacturability (DFM). Tool Procurement & Vendor Management Source tooling from suppliers and manage RFQs. Evaluate and select vendors based on cost, quality, and lead time. Oversee tool fabrication and delivery to meet program timelines. Tool Validation & Approval Conduct tool trials and validate performance against design requirements. Perform dimensional checks and ensure compliance with requirements. Approve tooling for production after successful validation. Maintenance & Troubleshooting Develop preventive maintenance plans for tools and dies. Troubleshoot tooling issues during production and implement corrective actions. Ensure tool life management and replacement planning. Cost & Efficiency Optimization Analyze tooling costs and identify cost reduction opportunities. Optimize tool design for cycle time reduction and durability. Support continuous improvement projects related to tooling. New Program Launch Support Participate in program launch meetings and ensure tooling readiness. Coordinate tooling changes for engineering updates. Provide technical support during pilot builds and ramp-up. | WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM: Education & Experience 12+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing and a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field or 8 years with Master's degree, or 5 years with PhD or equivalent experience Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and ERP systems. Automotive OEM experience preferred. Experience with Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing. Skills Proven leadership skills and ability to manage cross-functional teams. Strong knowledge of trim line processes and automotive interior components. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production planning software Working Conditions Manufacturing plant environment Exposure to moving machinery and industrial noise May require shift work (days, nights, weekends) WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE? At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles. Safety First Delight Customers One Team Relentless Improvement Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy Respectful Collaboration Positive Legacy WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE. Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason. Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto. About Us At Slate, we’ve got one job: building a vehicle you’ll fall in love with, right here in the USA. We believe that car buyers—not car companies—should call the shots. We like looking at a road, not a screen. We don’t like paying for stuff we don’t need. We like picking out the stuff we do need. We think dings are badges, not blemishes. But we know not everyone likes what we like. So, we built you a Slate: you make it yours.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing and a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field or 8 years with Master's degree, or 5 years with PhD or equivalent experience
Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and ERP systems.
Experience with Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing.
Proven leadership skills and ability to manage cross-functional teams.
Strong knowledge of trim line processes and automotive interior components.
Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production planning software

Nice To Haves

Automotive OEM experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Design jigs, fixtures, and tools for manufacturing processes.
Ensure tooling meets product specifications, tolerances, and quality standards.
Collaborate with product and process engineers for Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
Source tooling from suppliers and manage RFQs.
Evaluate and select vendors based on cost, quality, and lead time.
Oversee tool fabrication and delivery to meet program timelines.
Conduct tool trials and validate performance against design requirements.
Perform dimensional checks and ensure compliance with requirements.
Approve tooling for production after successful validation.
Develop preventive maintenance plans for tools and dies.
Troubleshoot tooling issues during production and implement corrective actions.
Ensure tool life management and replacement planning.
Analyze tooling costs and identify cost reduction opportunities.
Optimize tool design for cycle time reduction and durability.
Support continuous improvement projects related to tooling.
Participate in program launch meetings and ensure tooling readiness.
Coordinate tooling changes for engineering updates.
Provide technical support during pilot builds and ramp-up.