Tool & Die Maker
The Opportunity:
Rio Grande is a volume jewelry component supplier dedicated to crafting exquisite, high-quality jewelry components and pieces that delight our customers. We take pride in our commitment to precision, craftsmanship, and innovation. As we continue to grow and expand our product lines, we are looking for a skilled and experienced Tool and Die Maker to join our team
As a Tool and Die Maker at Rio Grande, you will be instrumental in the design, fabrication, maintenance, and repair of intricate tooling, dies, and molds crucial for our jewelry manufacturing processes. Working closely with a creative and collaborative team of experienced professionals, you will play a vital role in producing a wide range of components and tooling to meet the needs and desires of our customers.
Your dedication to ensuring the highest quality and precision in our tools and dies will be essential in contributing to the creation of exceptional products. Your leadership and expertise will guide and support the team in achieving operational excellence and driving continuous improvement in our manufacturing processes.
What You’ll Do:
- Participate and help supervise all activities associated with Tool & Die Requests, innovation, and equipment or repair needs.
- Assist in developing, training, mentoring newer Tool & Die apprentices/support machinists in operating all equipment or processes related to creation, maintenance, repair of Dies, and repair, maintaining, implementing new equipment.
- Design, create, and maintain tooling and dies, including progressive dies and injection molds for high-volume jewelry production.
- Use computer-aided design (CAD) software to design precise tooling components.
- Collaborate with all stakeholders, peers, and other team/link team members in any continuous improvement effort that supports the business need.
- Diagnose and resolve intricate tool and die problems, such as wear, damage, or alignment issues to ensure optimal performance.
- Perform regular maintenance on existing tools, dies, equipment to ensure they remain in excellent working condition.
- Operate various machines to perform precision fabrication and grinding operations to meet tight tolerances.
- Cut, shape, and heat-treat materials to achieve the desired hardness and durability.
- Maintain accurate records of tool and die designs, modifications, and maintenance activities.
- Utilize lean manufacturing methodologies to identify opportunities for process improvements and implement them to enhance production efficiency.
- Communicate effectively to address tool and die changes or issues to all team members, link teams or affected individuals.
- Ensure environmental health and safety standards are followed.
What You’ll Need:
- Extensive experience in tool and die making, with at least 5-10 years of experience at the T&D maker level. Preferably in a manufacturing environment, with a focus on jewelry or similar precision industries.
- Working knowledge in all tool-room machining to close tolerances, on the following equipment (But not limited to):
- Manual Mill, Manual Lathe, Wire EDM, CNC Mill, Surface Grinding, Heat Treating, and Tool Post Grinding.
- Proficient in workshop theory and calculations needed to produce die components.
- Proven experience to be able to rebuild, and document parts for complex progressive, compound, piercing, blanking, and forming dies. Including maintaining and reverse-engineering dies.
- Proficiency in CAD/CAM software and the use of CNC machines.
- In-depth knowledge of safety procedures, and quality control standards.
- Exceptional problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Familiar with Lean Manufacturing concepts.
- Strong knowledge of materials and heat treatment processes.
- Ability to use Microsoft office
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Dedication to quality and precision.
- Sees mistakes as learning opportunities and maintains perseverance during work roadblocks.
Schedule:
General hours are from 7:00 AM- 3:30 PM, with limited overtime unless there is a business need.
Work Environment:
Spend your day in a clean, organized, extremely well-equipped, and climate-controlled fabrication shop. We offer a friendly and fun participative work environment by encouraging and enabling associates to take ownership of their work and collaborate with their teammates to positively impact the business.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $74,880.00 - $93,600.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Relocation assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Experience:
- Tool & Die: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Albuquerque, NM 87121: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person