Tool & Die Maker

Location: Endicott, NY
Schedule: First Shift, Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Pay: $35–$45 per hour, commensurate with experience

Sapphire Recruitment is seeking an experienced Tool & Die Maker to build, maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and optimize progressive stamping dies used in the production of precision metal components.

This position works closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, and Maintenance to improve tooling reliability, dimensional accuracy, uptime, and production efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, repair, maintain, and optimize progressive stamping dies.
• Perform die sharpening, precision fitting, alignment, polishing, component replacement, and reassembly.
• Diagnose burrs, dimensional issues, misfeeds, strip-progression problems, die-timing concerns, and tooling wear.
• Complete preventive and predictive tooling maintenance.
• Set up and validate dies during press trials and production launches.
• Modify tooling for engineering changes, quality improvements, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality on root cause analysis and permanent corrective actions.
• Maintain tooling records, setup instructions, and spare-component inventories.
• Support improvements in uptime, scrap reduction, OEE, and tooling life.
• Follow all safety, quality, and environmental requirements and mentor team members as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least five years of experience building and maintaining progressive stamping dies.
• Journeyman certification, completed apprenticeship, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of progressive die construction, operation, strip layouts, die clearances, punch-to-die relationships, and die timing.
• Ability to read blueprints, engineering drawings, and GD&T.
• Experience with tool steels, carbide, coated tooling, and wear components.
• Proficiency in precision fitting, grinding, polishing, and tool assembly.
• Experience using surface or jig grinders, CNC or manual mills, lathes, and wire or sinker EDM equipment.
• Ability to use micrometers, calipers, height gages, optical comparators, and other precision inspection tools.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.

Experience with high-speed stamping, servo-feed systems, CAD software, CMMs, ERP systems, Lean manufacturing, PFMEA, control plans, or precision connector, electronics, or automotive manufacturing is preferred.

Must be able to stand for extended periods, lift up to 50 pounds, and work occasional overtime or weekends as production needs require.

Sapphire Recruitment is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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