| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Production |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Production Manager |
| Direct reports | Injection Moulding Operator |
| Experience | 3 to 7 years in injection moulding process setting and mould trials |
Moulding Engineer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Moulding Engineer
Department: Production
Reports to: Production Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Moulding Engineer runs the injection moulding process in a plastics plant or in the moulding shop of an automotive, appliance or packaging company. They set and fine-tune process parameters, conduct mould trials, solve moulding defects, plan mould changes and guide moulding operators across shifts. A good moulding engineer keeps scrap low and cycle times short, and gets new moulds approved without repeated trials.
Key responsibilities
- Set injection moulding parameters such as barrel temperature, injection pressure, speed, hold time and cooling for each mould and material.
- Conduct trials of new and repaired moulds, write trial reports and follow up corrections with the tool room or mould maker.
- Diagnose and correct defects such as short shots, flash, sink marks, weld lines, warpage and silver streaks.
- Plan mould changes against the PPC plan and prepare moulds, inserts, heaters and cooling connections in advance.
- Make sure raw material is dried correctly and regrind stays within approved limits.
- Shorten cycle times while holding part dimensions and appearance standards.
- Maintain a parameter sheet for every mould and machine, and control changes to approved settings.
- Watch machine and mould condition, including hot runners, heaters, ejector systems and cooling lines, and raise maintenance requests.
- Guide moulding operators on quality checks, safe mould handling and machine operation.
- Record production, rejection and downtime by machine and shift, and analyse the top rejection causes each week.
Requirements
- Diploma or BE in Plastics Engineering, Plastic Mould Technology or Mechanical Engineering
- A diploma or PG diploma from CIPET is highly valued
- Training in scientific moulding is an advantage
- 3 to 7 years in injection moulding process setting and mould trials
KRAs and KPIs for a Moulding Engineer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Moulding rejection | In-process rejection below the monthly target for each machine |
| Cycle time | Every running mould at or below its approved standard cycle time |
| Mould trials | New moulds approved within the planned number of trials |
| Mould change time | Average mould change time within the standard, measured at every change |
| Material usage | Regrind use and material wastage within approved limits each month |
| Parameter control | Zero unapproved changes to process parameter sheets found in audits |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Injection moulding machines from 50 to 800 tonnes, Mould temperature controllers, Dehumidifying dryers, Hot runner controllers, Vernier and height gauge, Parameter sheets.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Production Manager, Process Engineer, Quality Engineer
Interview questions for a Moulding Engineer
- A part shows sink marks near a thick boss. Which parameters do you change first?
- How do you decide the drying time and temperature for nylon?
- Walk me through a mould trial report you prepared.
- Which levers would you use to shorten the cycle on a mould without affecting dimensions?
- What is the difference between injection pressure and holding pressure?
- How do you control regrind on a part with cosmetic surfaces?
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Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a moulding engineer do?
A moulding engineer manages the injection moulding process. They set machine parameters for each mould and material, run mould trials, fix defects such as flash, short shots and sink marks, plan mould changes, control material drying and regrind, and guide operators across shifts. Their targets are low rejection, short cycle times and quick mould approvals.
What qualification is required for a moulding engineer?
Most moulding engineers hold a diploma or degree in plastics engineering or plastic mould technology, often from CIPET, or a mechanical engineering diploma with moulding experience. Hands-on knowledge of machines, materials and defect troubleshooting is essential, and training in scientific moulding is a plus.
What are common injection moulding defects?
Common defects include short shots, flash, sink marks, weld lines, warpage, flow marks, silver streaks and burn marks. Each has typical causes in temperature, pressure, speed, venting, material moisture or mould design. A moulding engineer diagnoses the cause and then corrects the process or raises a mould correction.