Principal Molding Engineer

Principal Molding Engineer

Southeast Michigan

Precision components. Real ownership. High-impact hire.

This manufacturer is expanding rapidly within a high-growth segment of the medical technology market, supporting next-generation surgical systems. As they scale, they are investing heavily in their plastics and molding capabilities, including precision injection molding, micro molding, and overmolding.

They are looking for a hands-on molding engineer who can help elevate their technical capabilities and play a key role in how their plastics operation grows.

Why this role matters right now

The business is at an inflection point. Historically strong in other manufacturing areas, they are now actively building out their plastics expertise, bringing more work in-house and expanding capabilities like overmolding and precision micro-scale components.

They need someone who can step in as a technical leader on the plastics side, helping guide process development, tooling decisions, and long-term capability growth.

This is a smaller, collaborative team where engineers have real influence. The culture is consistently described as low bureaucracy, high trust, and strong work-life balance, with leadership that understands what a good engineering environment looks like.

What you will own

• Develop and optimize injection molding and overmolding processes for high-precision components
• Support process development, mold trials, and production ramp-up for new programs
• Improve process stability, repeatability, and yield, especially on tight-tolerance parts
• Partner with tooling resources on DFM, mold design, and manufacturability
• Help expand internal plastics capabilities, including new equipment and processes
• Serve as a key plastics/process voice within a broader engineering team
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and program teams

Must-have experience

• Hands-on injection molding process engineering experience
• Background in precision molding, overmolding, or micro molding environments
• Strong process development, troubleshooting, and optimization skills
• Experience working closely with tooling and mold design

Strong additional signals

• Experience with small or tight-tolerance components
• Exposure to high-performance polymers (PEEK, nylons, etc.)
• Background in regulated manufacturing (medical device preferred, not required)
• Experience with validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) or scientific molding approaches

What you can expect

• Direct impact on next-generation medical and surgical technologies
• 4-day work week (10-hour shifts)
• Private company environment with minimal red tape
• A team that values engineering input and practical problem solving
• Strong work-life balance with limited off-hours disruption
• Opportunity to shape and grow a plastics capability from within
• Competitive benefits package

Target compensation: $130,000 – $160,000 (flexible based on experience)

What this role is not

• Not a siloed or purely support engineering role
• Not a constant firefighting production environment
• Not a large corporate structure with layers of approval

If you have experience in injection molding, overmolding, or micro molding and want a role where you can actually influence how things are built and scaled, this is worth a conversation.