Equipment & Tooling Engineer

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Equipment & Tooling Engineer

Location: Sumter, SC
Department: Engineering
Reports To: Engineering Manager
Status: Exempt

Position Overview

The Equipment & Tooling Engineer is responsible for improving the performance, reliability, and efficiency of manufacturing equipment in a high-volume production environment. This role supports the full equipment lifecycle—from specification and installation through optimization and ongoing support.

Working closely with Operations, Maintenance, Automation, Quality, and external partners, the engineer ensures equipment operates safely, reliably, and cost-effectively while supporting business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment Reliability

Troubleshoot equipment issues and implement long-term solutions
Improve uptime, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
Support root cause analysis for failures and production losses
Assist in preventive and predictive maintenance programs

Process & Equipment Improvement

Design and implement equipment upgrades and modifications
Optimize equipment for safety, quality, yield, and cost
Evaluate performance and identify improvement opportunities
Support process and equipment capability assessments

Capital Projects

Develop equipment specifications and technical requirements
Support supplier selection and procurement
Assist with installation, commissioning, and qualification (FAT/SAT)
Support layout planning and capacity expansion
Ensure successful transition of new equipment into production

Tooling

Establish tooling standards and best practices
Coordinate tooling design, sourcing, and lifecycle management
Manage spare parts and critical tooling inventory
Ensure tooling supports process capability and quality

Supplier & Team Collaboration

Work with suppliers, contractors, and integrators
Review technical proposals and project deliverables
Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and EHS
Support training and knowledge transfer

Documentation & Compliance

Maintain equipment documentation, procedures, and records
Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements
Support audits and safety reviews

Qualifications

Required:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent technical experience
3–7 years in manufacturing, equipment, or tooling engineering
Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
Experience with equipment installation and startup

Preferred:

Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering
Automotive or advanced manufacturing experience
Familiarity with automated systems
Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma knowledge

Additional Details

Travel: Up to 10%
Language: English required; German a plus
Supervisory: None

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5 Questions You Should Ask During the Interview

Here are 5 questions we think you could ask during your interview. Use them as a guide to help you write your own questions.

Remember: Always have at least 5 questions prepared for the interview. If you do not, you run the risk of looking unprepared.

What does success look like in this role, and how is it measured?

Why ask this? You want to ensure you have a clear understanding of expectations before accepting the role. Knowing how success is measured helps you hit the ground running and avoid surprises about performance evaluations. It also signals to the employer that you're results-driven.

Can you describe the team dynamic and the company culture?

Why ask this? Skills and experience matter, but if the work environment isn’t a good fit, you won’t be happy or productive. This question helps you gauge whether the company values collaboration, how teams interact, and whether the culture aligns with your work style and values.

What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this role right now?

Why ask this? Every job has challenges, and it’s better to know them upfront. This helps you assess whether the role is a good fit for your strengths and whether the company is realistic about its expectations. If they hesitate to answer, it could be a red flag.

How does the company support work-life balance and employee well-being??

Why ask this? Burnout is real, and some companies expect employees to sacrifice personal time for the job. By asking this, you’ll get a sense of how they value work-life balance, flexibility, and well-being—things that are crucial for job satisfaction and long-term success.

These questions help you make an informed decision while also showing your professionalism and strategic thinking!

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