Toolmaker (Bench-Hand / Press Toolmaker)
Location: Birmingham (West Midlands)
Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits | Flexible Working Options Available
Shape precision. Build the future.
One of the UK’s leading precision engineering manufacturers, proudly holding a Queen’s Award for Enterprise and over 160 years of heritage. We produce world-class metal components found in everything from electric vehicles and aerospace to healthcare and renewable energy systems.
We’re growing rapidly — investing in R&D, people, and innovation — and we’re looking for skilled Toolmakers at all levels (junior, intermediate, and senior) to help us deliver precision tools that power the products of tomorrow.
You’ll join a tight-knit, forward-thinking SME with global reach and a strong culture of collaboration. You’ll work alongside talented engineers on live projects that span multiple sectors and customers — from Ford and JLR to innovative start-ups and tiered suppliers across the supply chain.
We offer a rewarding, stable, and flexible environment where toolmakers are respected for their craft and encouraged to keep learning and progressing.
What you can expect:
* Competitive salary based on experience (junior to senior levels)
* Annual leave starting at 33 days, rising to 38 with service
* Friday half-days and Christmas shutdown
* Company pension, sick pay, and death-in-service cover
* Exclusive employee discounts and team-building activities
* £100k+ annual training budget to develop your skills
* A culture of mentoring, with 10+ apprentices currently training
* Opportunities to contribute to exciting projects with Ford EV, the Aerospace Technology Institute, and more
What You’ll Be Doing
As a Toolmaker, you’ll play a vital role in building and maintaining the tools that keep our precision manufacturing running smoothly. Depending on your experience, you’ll take on increasingly complex tasks and responsibilities, including:
* Repairing and maintaining a wide range of press tools (single blank, compound, modular multi-stage)
* Diagnosing, stripping, rebuilding, and regrinding tooling to exacting standards
* Troubleshooting and fine-tuning tools to meet micron-level tolerances
* Supporting tool try-outs and adjustments during production runs
* Working closely with design, production, and quality teams to improve processes
* Mentoring apprentices and sharing technical knowledge (for senior toolmakers)
* Promoting safe, efficient working and 5S standards throughout the toolroom
The Tooling & Equipment You’ll Work With
Our tooling capability is genuinely world-class. You’ll work with:
* Fixed Standard Tools – die sets with precision guidance elements for thicker materials
* Precision Fixed Tools – full-length die sets producing components to ±0.001mm
* Modular Tools – engineered for quick in-press changeovers (SMED)
You’ll directly support high-speed Bruderer and Yamada presses producing millions of precision components across EV, aerospace, telecoms, healthcare, and renewables sectors.
Our Toolrooms feature:
* GF AgieCharmilles EDM Drillers, Jones & Shipman Surface Grinders, XYZ CT52 Lathes, Mitutoyo Gauging Systems
* Advanced VISI 2023 CAD/CAM software
* Dedicated Precision Tooling Academy for skills development
What We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from apprentice-trained toolmakers at all experience levels — whether you’re early in your career or an experienced professional looking to take the next step.
You should have:
- Background in press toolmaking or bench fitting (progression or carbide tooling an advantage)
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to precision
- Ability to work confidently from engineering drawings
- A positive, “can-do” attitude and collaborative mindset
- Willingness to learn and share knowledge within a close-knit team
Supportive team culture and long-term career growth