Tooling Manager

Responsibilities

Strattec (NASDAQ: STRT) is a global automotive access company that designs and delivers safe, secure, and highly engineered access solutions for the automotive and mobility industries.

Built on generations of access and security engineering expertise, Strattec partners closely with leading automotive OEMs to create differentiated, system-level access experiences for drivers and passengers around the world. Our innovative portfolio spans the entire vehicle access journey:

• Permission: Secure vehicle entry through advanced mechanical and electronic access systems.
• Motion: Reliable, powered access solutions that enhance convenience and everyday usability.
• Hold: Precision-engineered latching systems that deliver strength, safety, durability, and performance trusted by global OEMs.

As vehicle access becomes increasingly intelligent, connected, and central to the overall driving experience, Strattec continues to expand its market presence, diversify its customer base, and grow its global reach. Our vision is to be the world's most trusted access solutions partner, delivering long-term value across the automotive and mobility markets.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Strattec operates facilities throughout the United States, including locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Auburn Hills, Michigan; and El Paso, Texas. Internationally, we maintain manufacturing, engineering, and commercial operations in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and León, Guanajuato, Mexico, as well as engineering and commercial operations in South Korea.

Our global footprint combines world-class engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and responsive customer support to help shape the future of vehicle access and security.

Guided by our culture pillars of Think New, Do Together, and Own It, we empower associates to innovate, collaborate, and take ownership to make a meaningful impact every day.

Join Strattec and help engineer the access experience for the next generation of mobility.

What We Offer 

Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and life outside of work. 

• Competitive compensation package, including base pay, regular salary reviews, and short-term incentive opportunities 

• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage with eligibility starting day one 

• Paid time off for vacation, holidays, sick time, and bereavement for eligible employees 

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match up to 5 percent and immediate vesting 

• Company-paid life insurance coverage to support you and your beneficiaries 

• Wellness program supporting physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing, plus opportunities to volunteer and give back to your community 

• Additional local benefits may apply depending on location or facility 

SUMMARY

The Tooling Manager role will be responsible for leading the day-to-day activities across all tooling areas across three shifts in the Milwaukee facility, including maintenance, repair, and outsourcing of existing die-cast and stamping tooling; fabrication and procurement of spare components; and new tooling builds for die-cast and stamping mold tooling.  

Some of these leaders’ responsibilities will include deployment of tooling-related business processes, collaborating on associate training and development, driving continuous improvement actions, understanding demand, assuring proper resources are allocated, developing and executing a tooling production management system, delivering new tooling launches on time and at budget, and building a structure to ensure consistent and sustained results. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• -Implement and enforce safety procedures and protocols. 

• -A hands-on leader that methodically and effectively brings together teams to drive bottom-line financial, OEE, and KPI results through all areas of Strattec’s tooling operations. 

• -Develop strategic vision and deploy transformational changes that include advanced processing technology, elimination of non-value-added process steps, optimization of existing processes, and standardized process designs that reliably deliver high-quality tooling at the best cost.  

• -Streamline new tool build process by leveraging core competencies and simplifying business processes. 

• -Increase speed to market and ensure on-time new product launches by growing new tooling build capacity and throughput, creating collaborative launch processes, and standardizing tooling designs. 

• -Identify and proactively plan for potential changes in demand, resource availability, extended tooling repairs, and supply shortages to minimize impact on our customers, associates, and financial performance. 

• -Build consistency and simplicity in how tooling processes are documented, executed, and sustained by utilizing standard work, structured business processes, and ensuring associates are adequately trained.  

• -Coordinate with key stakeholders and foster collaborative partnerships to create execution plans and innovative solutions when roadblocks arise to deliver high-quality products on time at target cost. 

• -Create strong and diverse teams by developing new leaders, hiring top-level talent, and pursuing actions to increase associate engagement, improve culture, and ensure associates are adequately trained. 

• -Review, improve, and standardize the tooling preventative maintenance program by leveraging best practices, and it should be based on the cycles a tool has operated. 

• -Inspire teams as a positive-minded and strategic-thinking change agent at all levels of the organization. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES  

This role will have supervisory responsibilities for both salary and bargaining unit associates, including interviewing, training, setting challenging objectives, planning/prioritizing work, appraising performance, providing constructive feedback, developing plans, conducting succession planning, and working with human resources to address all disciplinary/associate issues as necessary. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE  

• BS degree from an engineering discipline, industrial management or equivalent experience. 

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience. 

• CNC programming, high-speed machining, EDM (wire & sink), and grinding knowledge preferred. 

• Knowledge of quality control and part print references (GD&T). 

• Advanced understanding of MS Project or other similar resource planning software. 

• Understanding of lean concepts and how to apply them to a manufacturing environment. 

• Efficiently collect, analyze, and present data in a clear & concise format. 

• Interpret data analysis and provide insightful recommended solutions. 

• Ability to influence others through strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Excellent organizational and inventory management skills. 

• Vendor management skills to include negotiations, contracts, and performance compliance.  

• The ability to manage projects and work in a team project environment. 

MATHEMATICAL & REASONING ABILITY  

This role will require the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.  Some of these principles will include the ability to handle nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.) and to work with a variety of abstract and concrete variables. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak or hear.  The employee is frequently required to sit and occasionally required to stand, walk, and use hands to type, touch, and/or feel.  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.   

WORK ENVIRONMENT   

While the majority of time will be spent in an office environment, this role will require occasional exposure to moving manufacturing equipment, which may require hearing, vision, and/or foot protection. Limited travel (less than 15%), including international, required. 

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT  

Associates are committed to our Environmental Management System, which provides for continuous improvement of our organization's efforts to prevent pollution, comply with relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and meet customer-based environmental requirements. 

Qualifications

Strattec is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status such as race, religion, color, national origin, sex, and age.