Tooling Technician - ACA

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $4B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options
• Opportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Tooling Technician to manage and optimize the cutting tool inventory for a large-scale CNC machine shop. This role is a critical extension of the Manufacturing Engineering Team, supporting production through effective tooling management, process control, and continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will embody and advance the Engineering Team’s high standards of competence, diligence, respectfulness, and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities:

Tooling Inventory Management

• Maintain accurate inventory of cutting tools, holders, inserts, and related components.
• Monitor tool usage and life to ensure availability and minimize downtime.
• Implement and maintain tool crib systems and vending solutions.

Tooling Specification & Procurement

• Collaborate with engineers, programmers, and process technicians to specify correct tooling for each application.
• Source and procure tooling from approved vendors, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality.
• Maintain documentation for tooling specifications and usage history.

Process Control & Improvement

• Lead tooling-related improvement initiatives to enhance machining performance and reduce waste.
• Support root cause analysis for tooling-related issues and implement corrective actions.
• Standardize tooling across similar operations to improve consistency and reduce variability.

Technical Support & Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between the shop floor and engineering team for tooling-related matters.
• Provide technical support during new job setups and process development.
• Develop comprehensive tooling training programs that align tooling selection, setup, and application with various CNC machining processes.

Data & Reporting

• Track tooling performance metrics and generate reports for engineering and management review.
• Use data to identify trends, forecast needs, and support continuous improvement.

Personal Qualities

• Dependable, reliable, and competent professional who is an internally motivated self-starter with integrity, a strong work ethic, and a methodical approach to problem solving.
• A team player with strong interpersonal skills able to relate very well to people at all levels of the plant. Must be motivated to drive positive change in a fast paced and often challenging environment, navigating obstacles with minimal supervision to accomplish goals.
• Fact and data-oriented individual with sound judgment, excellent problem-solving skills, who is determinedly objective and uninfluenced by speculation.
• The ideal candidate will act in a way that appropriately represents and further develops the high standard and good reputation of the engineering team.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certification or associate degree preferred.
• 2 years minimum of experience in CNC machining or tooling management.
• Proficiency with tooling inventory systems and basic computer applications (Excel, ERP/MRP systems).
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with tool vending systems and automated inventory solutions.

Working Conditions

• Primarily a first shift, operations-oriented position also able to support/observe off or weekend shifts with sometimes minimal notice
• Heavy machining environment consisting of CNC mills/lathes, welding, some robotics, and manual operations
• Mostly manufacturing/production area with 20-40% office work