Director of Engineering & Tooling
Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
Lead Engineering Innovation. Drive Manufacturing Excellence.
Aprios Custom MFG is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Engineering & Tooling to join our senior leadership team. Reporting directly to the CEO, this critical leadership role will oversee Engineering, Project Management, Process Engineering, and Tooling while driving innovation, operational excellence, and business growth.
This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned engineering leader with deep expertise in plastic injection molding, mold design, and tooling operations who thrives on building high-performing teams, launching new products, and developing profitable manufacturing capabilities.
What You'll Do
As the Director of Engineering & Tooling, you will:
- Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across Engineering, Project Management, Process Engineering, and Tooling.
- Drive new product development activities from customer concept and RFQ through production launch.
- Establish and grow Aprios's internal mold design and build capabilities into a profitable business segment.
- Provide strategic leadership for injection mold design, tooling strategy, mold construction, and technical decision-making.
- Partner with Sales and customers to deliver innovative manufacturing solutions and support business growth opportunities.
- Oversee tooling programs including quoting, design review, sourcing decisions, project execution, quality, lead times, and profitability.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality teams to ensure successful production readiness and product launches.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, standardization, automation, and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies.
- Ensure effective tooling maintenance strategies, preventative maintenance programs, and customer reporting processes.
- Build a culture of accountability, technical excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
What We're Looking For
Required Experience
- 15+ years of progressive experience in injection mold design, mold building, tooling engineering, tool room operations, or related manufacturing environments.
- Proven leadership experience managing engineering, tooling, or technical teams.
- Extensive expertise in injection mold design, construction, machining, assembly, troubleshooting, and production applications.
- Demonstrated success leading new product development projects from concept through production launch.
- Experience estimating, quoting, and managing mold build projects.
- Strong knowledge of mold-build economics, capacity planning, supplier management, and make-versus-buy decisions.
- Working knowledge of CAD/CAM systems and mold design best practices.
- Strong customer-facing, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to balance technical requirements with business objectives, profitability, schedules, and customer expectations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Formal Tool & Die, Mold making, Machining, or similar technical training.
- Experience with automation, advanced manufacturing technologies, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience working in precision or regulated manufacturing environments.
Why Join Aprios Custom MFG?
At Aprios, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of our engineering and tooling operations while making a direct impact on company growth and customer success. We offer a collaborative environment where innovation, leadership, and technical expertise are valued and rewarded.
If you're a strategic engineering leader ready to drive manufacturing excellence and build world-class tooling capabilities, we'd love to hear from you.