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
