Tooling Applications Engineer - CNC - Manufacturing

Tooling Applications Engineer CNC - Manufacturing

Location: Dagenham, Essex

Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum, dependent on experience

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced CNC or machining professional who wants to use their technical knowledge away from a purely machine-based role and develop into tooling applications, process optimisation and continuous improvement.

Previous experience as a Tooling Applications Engineer is not essential. This is a specialist position and comprehensive training will be provided.

The Role

Working closely with CNC machining, production and supply management teams, you will analyse how cutting and abrasive tooling performs within the manufacturing process.

Rather than operating the machinery yourself, you will use your machining knowledge to investigate questions such as:

How long are cutting tools lasting?

Why are particular tools wearing prematurely?

Could an alternative tool or specification perform better?

Can tool life be increased?

Can machine downtime be reduced?

Can productivity or component quality be improved?

What is the true cost per component?

Could a more expensive tool actually deliver a lower overall manufacturing cost?

You will help plan and document controlled tooling trials, analyse the results and make technical recommendations based on performance, quality, productivity and cost.

Responsibilities

Analyse cutting and abrasive tooling performance

Monitor and evaluate tool life and tool wear

Identify opportunities to improve machining and tooling processes

Plan, coordinate and document tooling trials

Work alongside CNC machining teams during testing and optimisation

Analyse trial and production data

Compare tooling products and specifications

Identify opportunities to reduce cost per component

Help reduce machine downtime and improve productivity

Investigate tooling and process-related problems

Support continuous improvement and cost-saving projects

Maintain accurate technical and trial documentation

Liaise with production, engineering, supply management and tooling suppliers

Present technical recommendations to relevant stakeholders

Support tooling regrinding and recoating initiatives where appropriate

Key Skills & Experience

.Experience within a CNC machining or manufacturing environment

A good practical understanding of machining processes

Engineering apprenticeship, HNC/HND, degree or equivalent technical background

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills

An interest in tooling, machining and process optimisation

Good communication skills

Confidence working with machinists, engineers, suppliers and management

Strong attention to detail

A continuous-improvement mindset

The ability to work independently and develop new technical knowledge

Salary & Benefits

Salary up to £50,000, dependent on experience

Monday to Friday working

Specialist technical training and development

Opportunity to move away from purely operating/programming CNC machinery

Development into a specialist tooling applications career

Work within a major, technically advanced manufacturing environment

Long-term opportunity to develop expertise in tooling optimisation and manufacturing improvement

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who already understands CNC machining but wants to take that knowledge in a new direction, focusing on why processes perform as they do and how they can be made better, faster and more cost-effective.