Tool Design Engineer (NPD)

Role & responsibilities

Department New Product Development (NPD) / Tool Room

Reports To Senior Manager New Product Development / Tool Room

Key Interfaces Tooling Engineers, Production, Quality (SQA), Customers (for ECN/design review)

Job Summary

The Tool Design Engineer is responsible for designing progressive dies and strip layouts for high-precision sheet metal

stamping parts, from concept through complete tool design drawings. The role ensures designs are economical,

manufacturable, and meet product requirements, incorporates production feedback and ECN updates into die design,

and works closely with Tooling Engineers to trial, troubleshoot, and resolve issues on new dies.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare tool/strip layout with economy in material utilization and initiate tool design for high-precision stamping

parts.

• Design the complete die concept and layout to meet product requirements.
• Prepare complete tool design drawings for progressive and other stamping tools.
• Design die part details and break them down into individual component drawings (DWG) for the

tooling/manufacturing process.

• Apply improvements identified from production feedback into new die designs.
• Coordinate with Tooling Engineers during die trials; analyse issues to identify root cause and resolve problems on

new dies.

• Modify and update die designs in response to Engineering Change Notices (ECN).
• Conduct Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews for new die designs.
• Design progressive tools and strip layouts for new and existing products.

Preferred candidate profile

• Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (DME) / Tool & Die, or BE (Mechanical / Tool & Die), or equivalent.
• 36 years of experience in progressive die/tool design for sheet metal stamping components, preferably in the

automotive component industry.

• Proven experience designing strip layouts and complete progressive die assemblies for high-precision parts.

Knowledge

• Progressive die design principles piercing, blanking, forming, bending, and drawing operations.
• Strip layout design with material/economy optimization.
• DFM (Design for Manufacturability) methodology.
• ECN (Engineering Change Notice) handling and design change control.
• Proficiency in 2D/3D CAD design software (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks, VISI, or equivalent) for die and

component design. Skills & Competencies

• Strong die design and detailing skills, including DWG breakdown for manufacturing.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve die trial issues.
• Ability to interpret product drawings and translate them into complete die concepts.
• Effective coordination with Tooling, Production, and Quality teams.
• Attention to detail and precision in design documentation.