Progressive Die Designer
Location: Randolph, Vermont
Overview:
New England Precision is a multi-shift, high-volume, best-in-class precision metal stamping manufacturer known for operational excellence and an exceptional workplace culture. The company has been consistently recognized as a “Best Place to Work,” a distinction reflected in its extraordinarily high employee retention rate. This recognition is the result of a deeply rooted, team-centric environment where collaboration, accountability, and respect are core values. Employees are empowered to contribute, innovate, and grow within a culture that prioritizes engagement and inclusion.
We are seeking an experienced Progressive Die Designer to design, develop, and optimize high-volume progressive stamping and deep draw dies for presses ranging from 18 to 280 tons. This role supports multi-shift operations manufacturing components primarily from brass, copper, specialty alloys, and engineered metals.
The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical design capability with practical knowledge of die construction, strip development, material behavior, and high-speed production requirements. This is a hands-on engineering role within a collaborative, team-centric manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Die Design & Engineering
· Design progressive stamping dies and deep draw tooling for high-volume production.
· Develop complete strip layouts including pitch development, station progression, forming strategy, and carrier design.
· Engineer forming, blanking, piercing, coining, tapping and drawing stations.
· Calculate tonnage requirements and ensure tooling compatibility with 18–280-ton presses.
· Design tooling for high-speed production while minimizing scrap and maximizing die life.
· Design die protection and error proofing up front with sensors such as misfeed detection, part ejection sensors, tap sensors and strip sensors.
Material & Process Expertise
· Design tooling for brass, copper, alloys, and specialty metals with consideration for:
o Spring back
o Grain direction
o Work hardening
o Surface protection requirements
· Apply knowledge of draw ratios and forming limits for deep draw applications.
· Collaborate with production to optimize feed systems, pilots, knockouts, and scrap removal.
· Design tooling to prevent and detect common problems such as slug pulling and blow off issues.
Tooling Documentation & CAD
· Create detailed die designs using 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent).
· Produce fully detailed manufacturing prints, BOMs, and assembly drawings.
· Maintain revision control and engineering documentation standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
· Partner with toolmakers, quality and production during die build and debug.
· Support tryout and production launch activities.
· Work with quality and production teams to resolve die-related performance issues.
· Lead design reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Continuous Improvement
· Optimize strip layouts to reduce material waste.
· Improve die robustness, uptime, and maintainability.
· Contribute to cost reduction and productivity initiatives.
· Prevent quality issues through error proofing.
Required Qualifications
Journeyman Tool & Die background or formal training in Tool & Die Technology.
· 5+ years of progressive die design experience in a high-speed production stamping environment.
· Demonstrated experience designing progressive stamping and/or deep draw dies, servo feed and coil handling.
· Experience designing tooling for presses between 18–280 tons and for life optimization.
· Strong understanding of strip development and station sequencing.
· Proficiency in 3D CAD design software.
· Strong mechanical aptitude and GD&T knowledge.
· Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Experience working with ISO or other quality management systems.
Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience.
Core Competencies
· Strip layout optimization
· Progressive die sequencing
· Deep draw design fundamentals
· Material forming analysis
· Tonnage calculation
· Problem-solving and root cause analysis
· Precision tolerance management
· Collaboration with toolroom and production teams
Work Environment
· Manufacturing environment supporting multi-shift operations.
· Collaboration with toolroom, engineering, and production teams.
· Hands-on involvement during die builds and tryout phases.
Compensation:
· $80,000+ dependent upon experience.
Relocation assistance available