Senior Toolmaker

SUMMARY:
Senior Toolmaker / Tool & Die Maker (Machine Manufacturing)
Open to all South Africans up to the age of 55 years of age
Location: Boksburg, Johannesburg East, Gauteng, South Africa
Employment Type: Permanent
Industry: Engineering / Machine Manufacturing / Automotive Manufacturing
Job Summary
An established engineering and machine manufacturing company based in Boksburg is seeking an experienced Trade Tested Toolmaker or Tool & Die Maker to join its manufacturing team. The successful candidate will be responsible for taking projects from the design and concept stage through to precision manufacturing, assembly, testing, commissioning, and final production of tooling, jigs, fixtures, dies, and specialised machinery components.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years' experience in a high-precision engineering or automotive manufacturing environment and possess exceptional machining, problem-solving, and tool design capabilities.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum Requirements

• Trade Tested Toolmaker or Tool & Die Maker (Red Seal or equivalent recognised qualification).
• Minimum 10 years' post-trade experience in engineering, machine manufacturing, or automotive manufacturing. If you don’t have 10 years post trade experience in this field you will not be contacted.
• Proven experience manufacturing tooling from technical drawings and customer specifications.
• Strong knowledge of precision machining, tool design, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, CAD designs, and GD&T specifications.
• Valid driver's licence and reliable transport.

• Design, manufacture, assemble, modify, and repair precision tools, dies, moulds, jigs, fixtures, and machine components.
• Manufacture tooling from concept and design through to final production and commissioning.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD files, and technical specifications.
• Set up and operate conventional machine shop equipment including lathes, milling machines, surface grinders, cylindrical grinders, and drilling machines.
• Manufacture components to extremely tight tolerances and quality standards.
• Conduct fitting, assembly, testing, fault finding, and commissioning of tooling and machinery.
• Perform maintenance and repairs on production tooling to minimise downtime.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams on new product development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Recommend design improvements to enhance manufacturability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and housekeeping standards.

• Precision machining and toolmaking
• CNC machining exposure advantageous
• Tool and die manufacturing
• Jig and fixture design
• Mechanical fitting and assembly
• Surface grinding and precision finishing
• Lathe and milling operations
• Blueprint and engineering drawing interpretation
• Measuring equipment including micrometers, verniers, bore gauges, dial indicators, and height gauges
• Preventative maintenance and root cause analysis

• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• High level of craftsmanship and pride in workmanship
• Team player with effective communication skills

• Experience in automotive tooling and production environments
• Exposure to CAD/CAM software and CNC programming
• Prototype development and custom machine building
• Hydraulic and pneumatic tooling systems
• Reverse engineering and process improvement initiatives