Tooling Project Engineer

Wrexham

£40,000

Company & context:

Industry
Injection moulding and assembly of plastic and rubber components, predominantly for the automotive industry. Example products include wiring system components, exterior trim parts, and technical sealing solutions.

Reason for hiring
We are hiring to grow our technical capability within the New Product Introduction (NPI) team, strengthening how we specify, deliver and industrialise new tooling, automation and manufacturing equipment.

In this role, the successful candidate will be supported by the Group Tooling & Process Development Manager and the wider NPI team, with clear scope to take increasing ownership as they grow in the role.

• Deliver multiple new tooling / equipment workstreams on time by coordinating suppliers, internal stakeholders, and structured project plans.
• Contribute to practical design concepts and industrialisation solutions for tooling, automation and manufacturing equipment supporting injection moulding, assembly and product handling.
• Produce clear, comprehensive technical specifications for tooling / automation / equipment that align to product requirements and targeted process capability.
• Review supplier designs against the specification and collaborate to close gaps, reducing iteration loops and improving "right-first-time" outcomes.
• Maintain robust project documentation (specifications, drawings, approvals, change control) in a way that supports safe launch and compliance with relevant health & safety expectations and industrial directives.

Organisational Structure:

Reports to
Group Tooling & Process Development Manager

Key stakeholders

• New Product Introduction team
• Site Operations / Manufacturing
• Compliance / Quality (as applicable to project requirements)
• Customer purchasing, engineering and compliance teams

Practicalities:

Location & working pattern
Hybrid working is possible, weighted towards on-site attendance (typically at least 3 days on-site per week).

Travel

• National travel to supplier sites where required (most communication will be remote).
• International travel to company sites may be required on a project basis and will be planned around programme needs.

Salary band
£40,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Skills & Experience:

Essential experience / skills

• Industry experience in injection moulding tooling and/or processes
• Working knowledge of mechanical engineering principles (e.g., toolmaking, machining, mechanisms, fit/finish, tolerancing)
• Proficiency in 3D CAD design (package to be confirmed internally)
• Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T basics and design intent
• Good understanding of design feasibility and Design for Manufacture (DFM)
• Practical project coordination / project management experience (managing timelines, actions, suppliers and stakeholders)
• Ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams concurrently, prioritising effectively under time constraints
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making
• Clear communication across multiple stakeholders (technical and non-technical)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Desirable experience:

• Design and manufacture of plastic injection mould tooling
• Design and manufacture of rubber injection mould tooling
• Tooling / equipment for end-of-arm tooling, automation, assembly, fixturing and handling
• Recognised problem solving techniques; Ishikawa, 5-why etc.
• Automotive industry experience (APQP/PPAP exposure is a plus if applicable)
• Experience working across multinational supply chains and/or multiple manufacturing sites
• Confident presenting technical updates to groups
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to analyse/visualise data

Qualifications:

Minimum
Degree-level Mechanical Engineering / Design or equivalent industry experience

Desirable

• Formal project management training / certification
• Relevant engineering operations qualifications (where applicable)
• Lean manufacturing certification; Six Sigma, Toyota Lean Management etc.

Target candidate:

We are looking for someone with a strong practical foundation (hands-on engineering background) who has progressed into a design and/or project coordination role. The ideal candidate enjoys turning concepts into buildable, measurable manufacturing solutions, working closely with suppliers and internal teams to deliver on-time, high-quality outcomes.

This is a welcoming opportunity within a medium-sized, family-owned business, where a capable technical person can make a noticeable impact in a small, enthusiastic product development team.

Additional description of the role:

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced, mid-level engineer to join a leading automotive manufacturer and make a real impact within a small but committed NPI team. The company prides itself on solving complex technical challenges in a competitive industry and delivering robust, repeatable manufacturing solutions to customers.

The role focuses on supporting the design and delivery of new tooling, automation and manufacturing equipment for new products, working across multiple company locations and supplier partners. It offers strong development potential for a candidate who wants broader project ownership and the chance to shape how new manufacturing solutions are delivered across the business.

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