Senior Setter (Toolmaker) - Maitland, Cape Town

An established, high-volume precision mechanical engineering company based in Maitland, Cape Town, is seeking a Senior Setter / Toolmaker with deep hands-on experience in mechanical setups and gear cutting machinery.

This role is ideal for a mature, steady artisan who takes pride in first-time-right setups, stable production, and passing knowledge on to the next generation.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12
• Red Seal Toolmaker
• 20+ years’ experience in toolmaking or precision machining
• Proven experience in a high-volume mechanical engineering / manufacturing environment
• Strong hands-on setting experience on older mechanical gear cutting machinery
• Solid experience with milling machines, presses, pneumatic and hydraulic tooling
• Ability to troubleshoot and stabilise machines under load
• Programming knowledge (where applicable)
• Fluent in English or Afrikaans

SA Citizens only

Must be Criminal Clear

Must reside in the Greater Cape Town area

Role Objective

You will be responsible for setting and programming machinery (where applicable) in preparation for production within the Second Operations section.

The focus is on:

• First-time-right setups
• Stable, repeatable production
• Adherence to engineering targets and quality specifications
• Training and supporting operators

Key Responsibilities

Production Setup & Operation

• Interpret layouts and verify documentation
• Set and troubleshoot specialized gear cutting machinery
• Ensure first-off approval before full production
• Minimise setup scrap and ensure proper segregation

Tooling & Equipment

• Manufacture and maintain single-function tooling
• Maintain and adjust older mechanical equipment
• Conduct root cause analysis and corrective adjustments
• Perform basic maintenance and escalate where required
• Ensure all tools and Gear Hob sets are labelled and stored correctly

Quality & Compliance

• Collect and manage gauges as per IMDS requirements
• Interpret manuals and machine documentation accurately
• Submit first-offs and implement corrective actions
• Identify and resolve out-of-spec trends
• Maintain consistent quality throughout production runs

Safety & Continuous Improvement

• Uphold safe working practices
• Maintain high 5S housekeeping standards
• Contribute to improved setups, cycle times, and workflow
• Train and mentor less experienced operators

Key Performance Areas

• Machines set within allocated engineering times
• Conformance to cycle time, stability, and capability targets
• High first-off acceptance rates
• Low scrap and rework
• Active safety and housekeeping participation
• Structured operator training and IMDS compliance

The Ideal Candidate

• Mature, steady and focused
• Strong pride in workmanship
• Patient and detail-oriented
• Excellent mechanical intuition and diagnostic ability
• Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision
• Committed to quality and process stability

This is a role for a highly skilled artisan who values craftsmanship, consistency and leaving a legacy in a precision manufacturing environment.