Job Description

Journeyman Tool Maker – Injection Molding

Location: Tracy, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time / Part-Time

About the Role

We are a fast-paced custom plastics injection molder seeking a hands-on Journeyman Tool Maker to support high-mix, short-run production. This role is heavily shop-floor focused and requires strong troubleshooting skills, urgency, and pride in craftsmanship. You will work directly with molds that must run now , not next week.

If you enjoy tearing down molds, fixing problems, improving performance, and keeping production running—this role is for you.

What You’ll Be Doing (Hands-On Responsibilities)

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on injection molds to keep them production-ready.
• Disassemble, clean, inspect, repair, and reassemble molds efficiently and correctly.
• Diagnose and fix tooling-related issues causing:
• Flash
• Short shots
• Sticking parts
• Ejection failures
• Venting and cooling problems
• Repair or replace mold components including:
• Cores & cavities
• Slides, lifters, and cam actions
• Ejector pins & sleeves
• Inserts and wear components
• Perform on-the-fly tooling repairs to minimize machine downtime.
• Modify molds to improve part quality, cycle time, and process robustness.
• Support mold sampling, tryouts, and production startups.
• Work directly with Process Technicians and Production to troubleshoot real-time molding issues.
• Stage molds for changeovers and ensure they are clean, safe, and ready to run.
• Accurately document maintenance and repairs in the mold tracking system.

Equipment & Skills You’ll Use Daily

• Manual mills, lathes, surface grinders
• Hand tools, polishing tools, spotting techniques
• Crane and forklift for mold handling
• Measuring tools (micrometers, calipers, indicators)
• Mold prints, GD&T, and part drawings
  

What We’re Looking ForRequired Qualifications

• Journeyman Tool Maker or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of hands-on injection mold maintenance and repair
• Strong understanding of injection mold construction and function
• Proven ability to troubleshoot molds under production pressure
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Comfortable in a high-changeover, fast-paced job shop

Preferred (Not Required)

• Hot runner experience (DME, Mold-Masters, Husky, etc.)
• CNC machining or EDM experience
• Experience with medical, aerospace, or tight-tolerance molds
• Familiarity with CMMS or mold maintenance software

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and handle large molds using cranes/forklifts
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and work on the shop floor for extended periods
• Willingness to work overtime or off-shift support when production demands it

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Molds run reliably with minimal downtime
• Tooling issues are addressed quickly and correctly
• Production trusts you when a mold goes down
• Preventive maintenance is done right—not rushed or skipped
• You take ownership of mold performance

Why Join Us

• Hands-on work—no desk-only roles
• Challenging tooling with real-world problem solving
• Team environment with direct impact on production
• Competitive pay based on experience
• Stable, growing custom molding operation

Job Tags

Full time, Part time, Shift work

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