Jobs › Silgan

This position has closed. Silgan first posted this listing on Jan 29, 2025. It is still on their careers page, but a job that old is almost certainly not being filled, so we took it down on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Tool Maker

Silgan · Mequon, WI · Full time

Posted Jan 29, 2025 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to improvise a setup beyond what your equipment was designed to do.

What they are checking: Whether they can creatively and safely adapt tools and machines, which the role specifically requires.

Tell me about an apprentice or machinist you've helped train. What did you focus on?

What they are checking: Whether they can give technical guidance to others, which the posting expects.

How do you keep records of mold repairs and changes?

What they are checking: Whether they document work so future repairs are faster and the mold's history is clear.

What would you do

A mold breaks down on the floor and production is stopped. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they work quickly with mold maintenance to minimize downtime while still doing a sound repair.

You're in the middle of a planned mold change when an urgent breakdown comes in. How do you decide what to do?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize under pressure and communicate with production about tradeoffs.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd repair a damaged cavity on a plastic injection mold.

What they are checking: Whether they can plan and do the bench, machining and finishing work for precise mold repair.

What's your experience programming in NX or SolidWorks CAM, and how do you go from a model to a toolpath?

What they are checking: Whether they can program CNC work themselves, which the posting calls out as a key skill.

Parts are coming out short-shot in one cavity. How do you figure out if it's the mold or the process?

What they are checking: Whether they can troubleshoot molding problems and tell tooling faults from processing faults.

How do you alter a mold to improve the original design, and how do you confirm the change worked?

What they are checking: Whether they plan design changes carefully and verify results with parts, not assumptions.

How do you hold tight tolerances on a job, and how do you check your work?

What they are checking: Whether they use proper measuring tools and habits to keep precision work accurate.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Silgan from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Silgan.

SUMMARY: Involved in repairing existing plastic injection molds and components, Able to proficiently program in CAM/CAD software (NX/ Solidworks), and manipulate as needed. Able to run CNC/NC and all related tool room equipment effectively. Support the production operation by providing immediate response to all breakdowns to minimize downtime. Provide technical guidance to apprentices, machinists, mold maintenance, and production technician personnel as needed. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES includes the following, other duties may be assigned. • Under minimal supervision, plan, lay out and perform all bench, machine and finishing operations required to alter and condition intricately designed and constructed plastic injection molding dies and related fixtures • Ability to proficiently program and design edit in CAD/CAM - NX/Solidworks a plus • Perform difficult machine set-ups and operations that require improvising of tools and machines for adaption beyond the normal range and capacities of available equipment • Support the production operations and work with mold maintenance to minimize downtime on the production floor • Work from special instructions to either maintain or alter molds to achieve improvements to the original design • Demonstrated troubleshooting skills in solving problems with plastic injection moldings, mechanical maintenance systems and related equipment • Work with outside vendors to process welding, polishing, plating and other services as needed • Verify conformance of finished work-piece to specifications, fit and assemble parts into complete assembly(s), verify dimensions and alignment of assembly(s) • Performs routine and customary material handling and housekeeping associated with the job • Experience with multiple types of hot runner systems- Husky a plus • Read blueprints • Basic understanding of PCs • Good verbal and written communication skills Food Safety • All employees are required to understand and follow all Quality Food Safety Management System (QFSMS) policies and procedures. In addition, employees are responsible for reporting problems with the QFSMS to a supervisor or manager. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma or equivalent is the minimum requirement for education. Associate degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and/or 5 years or more of related experience and/or training is desired. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze and interpret prints. Ability to respond to inquiries of Apprentices, Machinists and Mold Maintenance personnel. Ability to effectively communicate with Managers, Engineers Customers and Co-workers. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, metric-to-inch conversions and geometric tolerances. REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. CERTIFICATES / LICENSES: Journeyman Tool and Die Maker Certificate is highly desired but not required. Ability to maintain internal certifications and licenses as required such as powered lifts etc. OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: The ability to work independently, Ability to operate most common tool room equipment such as: mills, radial drills, surface grinders, and various hand tools. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and sit. The employee must frequently lift and carry 50 lbs. up to 10 feet, and occasionally lift and carry up to 75 pounds several feet (e.g., molds without eyebolts). Objects are at waist height. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The environment is climate controlled. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock. The noise levels in the work environment range from quiet to moderate. The noise level on the manufacturing floor is loud. The following personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to be always worn when performing in this role while on the manufacturing floor: safety glasses and hearing protection. Food Safety protective equipment is always required while on the manufacturing floor: including hair nets, gloves and, if applicable, beard nets. LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis. Silgan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or the presence of a disability, which would not prevent the performance of essential job duties with, or without reasonable accommodation of any other protective status. Silgan is a drug-free workplace.