Tooling Engineer Career
Tooling Engineer Career
(OP)
Hello all. I am a recent ME graduate and searching for a position.
An opportunity has come along to work for a manufacturing company as a tooling design engineer (dies and such). Though up to now I have been mostly looking into product design, I saw this as something comparable.
I live in New Jersey and I realize manufacturing isn't very strong here. But I wonder what kinds of opportunities exist in this specialty? I am not looking to be a manufacturing engineer per se, that is dealing with workflows, factory layout, or process engineering, but I do enjoy the design aspect. Any comments and advice would be helpful.
An opportunity has come along to work for a manufacturing company as a tooling design engineer (dies and such). Though up to now I have been mostly looking into product design, I saw this as something comparable.
I live in New Jersey and I realize manufacturing isn't very strong here. But I wonder what kinds of opportunities exist in this specialty? I am not looking to be a manufacturing engineer per se, that is dealing with workflows, factory layout, or process engineering, but I do enjoy the design aspect. Any comments and advice would be helpful.





RE: Tooling Engineer Career
Tooling designers are very interesting people to talk to, from the other side of the table. One advantage compared with product design is that your customer is usually somewhat realistic about what he wants from you (I'll wait for wails of laughter from the tooling engineers).
Again from an automotive perspective, Toyota put their fast-track graduates into manufacturing, not product design, according to "The Toyota Way".
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Tooling Engineer Career
I would say for the near future -while to doller is low- it will keep you employed and if you get 3D design experience, you will have an advantage over most product designers when you decide to change jobs. Often designer's don't know/think of the manufacture of a product creating a lot of revisions or even field modifications.
Best of luck
RE: Tooling Engineer Career
Be aware that you will encounter old timers who don't have a degree. They may have the terminology and maybe the science all wrong, but they know what they are talking about. Suck their brains dry while you can.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Tooling Engineer Career
good luck
RE: Tooling Engineer Career
So you being able to get your foot in the door may be a good thing.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Tooling Engineer Career
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro
RE: Tooling Engineer Career
I don't actually have an offer yet, but I've had two interviews with the company and it looks very promising. Nevertheless doing many interviews gives you a chance to explore the various facets of ME.
-John
RE: Tooling Engineer Career
From what I understand, China makes the tools, messes it up, and the US supplier makes us a whole new tool. Plenty of business for everyone ;)
But as someone else said it could be an international career. Get ready to travel overseas when they mess something up. Unless this place machines everything in house.
The toolmakers we use in China sometimes do not use inserts in the tool. That means if it is incorrect to begin with, dropped or mishandled, it might need completely redone. And these are complex parts. Glad I am not the program manager ;)
my .02
RE: Tooling Engineer Career