Toolmaker – Skilled Trade Machinist

Your Job

Join the Molex Aerospace & Defense Solutions (ADS) manufacturing team as a Toolmaker – Skilled Trade Machinist in Little Falls, MN. In this role, you will use your machining and toolmaking expertise to build, repair, modify, and maintain precision tooling and components that support our manufacturing operations.

You will work from technical drawings, specifications, and existing tooling to produce highly accurate parts while troubleshooting tooling issues and partnering with production and engineering to keep equipment and processes running safely, efficiently, and reliably.

Our Team

You will be part of a skilled manufacturing team supporting precision production for aerospace and defense applications. You will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other skilled trades to support production requirements, resolve tooling challenges, and improve manufacturing performance.

Our team values safety, craftsmanship, precision, problem solving, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What You Will Do

• Build, repair, modify, and maintain precision tooling, dies, fixtures, gauges, and machine components used in manufacturing operations.
• Set up and operate manual machining equipment such as mills, lathes, grinders, drill presses, and other toolroom equipment.
• Use CNC machining equipment as required to manufacture or repair precision components.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, sketches, GD&T, and technical specifications.
• Perform precision machining operations while maintaining required dimensional tolerances and surface finishes.
• Use micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gauges, comparators, and other precision measuring equipment to inspect completed work.
• Diagnose tooling and equipment issues and determine appropriate repairs, modifications, or replacement components.
• Perform fitting, assembly, adjustment, and troubleshooting of tooling to support reliable production performance.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Maintenance to troubleshoot manufacturing problems and implement effective solutions.
• Support preventative maintenance and continuous improvement efforts that improve tooling performance, equipment reliability, quality, and productivity.
• Maintain accurate documentation and follow established safety, quality, and manufacturing procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe toolroom and work environment.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Experience as a Toolmaker, Machinist, Tool & Die Maker, or in a similar skilled-trades machining role.
• Experience setting up and operating manual machining equipment such as mills, lathes, and grinders.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, blueprints, and dimensional specifications.
• Experience using precision measurement and inspection equipment.
• Working knowledge of machining practices, tooling, materials, feeds and speeds, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and tooling problems and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements associated with a manufacturing and toolroom environment.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Technical diploma, apprenticeship, journeyman training, or equivalent education in machining, tool and die, mold making, or a related skilled trade.
• Experience building, repairing, or maintaining stamping dies, molds, fixtures, or other precision production tooling.
• CNC setup, operation, and/or programming experience.
• Experience with EDM, surface grinding, precision grinding, or other advanced toolroom equipment.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and tight-tolerance machining.
• Experience troubleshooting tooling in a high-volume or high-precision manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, electronics, connector, medical device, or other highly regulated precision-manufacturing operations.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methods.