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.