Tool and Die Maker Recruiters
At Skilled Trades Headhunters, this is what we do all day: recruit skilled trades professionals.
Hire a journeyman who builds progressive dies from scratch and manages heat treatment daily.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
Tell us who you need.
Role and contact first. The rest is optional.
- No upfront fee
- Pay only if you hire
- Skilled trades only
- We reach tradespeople who aren't on job boards
- Replacement guarantee on standard searches
What this hire really comes down to
You lose money when a press stops for die repair or poor part fit. Do not assume a machinist can handle this work just because they have years of shop experience. A generic title often hides a lack of specialized training in metallurgy or progressive die geometry. Start by asking candidates to explain their specific history with die tryout and press assembly under load. A real fit knows how metal behaves when stamped at high speed. They speak in terms of die clearance, steel hardness, and mechanical force instead of just listing software or machine names.
Look for a journeyman who builds tools from scratch rather than one who only performs simple repairs. They must demonstrate direct mastery of wire EDM to handle internal geometry that mills cannot reach. Ask how they set internal wire tension for varied steel grades. If they cannot explain the heat treatment steps they took for a specific part to prevent deformation, they will struggle with your tooling longevity. A qualified hire provides evidence of their ability to manage complex forming sequences and maintain tolerance without constant oversight during your daily production runs.
What we check before you see anyone
- Verify their registered apprenticeship journeyman status specifically for tool and die making. This ensures they have completed formal, structured training in metallurgy, thermal expansion, and complex geometry that cannot be learned through informal shop floor observation alone.
- Require proven experience with progressive dies. This is a non-negotiable differentiator because these dies demand advanced metal forming sequence knowledge. If a candidate cannot explain how these dies function, they lack the capacity for your high-speed operations.
- Validate direct proficiency in wire EDM operations. This capability is essential for creating the precise internal shapes that standard milling or drilling cannot reach. Ask how they manage internal wire tension and speed for varied steel hardness.
- Assess their experience with die tryout processes in a live press environment. They must be able to rectify assembly issues before mass production starts. Proficiency here proves they understand how their work performs under actual mechanical force.
- Test their knowledge of heat treatment and material science. A candidate must know how specific alloys respond to heat during fabrication. Their ability to manage the stabilization of metal parts against deformation directly impacts tool longevity and performance.
Where we find them
Target active tradespeople currently employed in heavy industrial maintenance departments, aerospace facilities, or automotive stamping plants. These professionals exist in environments where equipment failure carries high costs, forcing them to maintain extreme precision standards. Look for individuals currently managing complex fixture designs for long-run production cycles.
Motivations to move usually involve a desire to return to challenging tool-building from stagnant production support roles. Skilled makers prioritize shops that value high-tolerance standards and advanced EDM capabilities over simple production throughput. They leave employers who prioritize volume over craftsmanship or those who fail to invest in modern shop technology.
Mistakes we see
- Hiring based on general machining tenure without verifying progressive die experience leads to constant tool breakage during production cycles and significant downtime for your press room.
- Assuming an applicant knows specific EDM techniques because they operate CNC equipment is a failure to screen for critical diagnostic skills necessary for complex internal die geometries.
- Accepting vague claims of toolroom knowledge without requesting proof of apprenticeship certification leads to employing amateurs who lack the fundamental understanding of material stress and heat treatment.
The search in three steps
Identify specialized industrial hubs
Locate regional heavy manufacturing facilities focusing on stamping, aerospace or custom metal forming where precise tooling is the daily standard. These plants naturally filter for the specific technical mastery your operations require.
Contact proven practitioners directly
Contact professionals currently in industrial maintenance roles who demonstrate high competency with complex forming dies. These individuals often maintain networks of equally capable peers through trade associations and formal apprenticeship groups.
Verify technical credentials first
Prioritize candidates holding recognized journeyman status. Confirm their history involves building tools from scratch rather than just performing minor repairs or modifications on existing equipment in lower-precision environments.
Before you start the search
How long does a typical search take?
A high-quality search requires a rigorous vetting period to ensure the candidate possesses the specific metallurgy and die-building expertise needed. We prioritize matching your specific site requirements rather than providing a rapid list of unqualified resumes.
How do we handle a candidate who receives a counteroffer?
We focus on uncovering the candidate's core motivation to move early in the process. If their primary driver is technical growth and superior tooling environments, they are less likely to be swayed by a last-minute monetary adjustment.
Are travel and per diem expenses standard for this role?
Travel and per diem are rarely required for permanent on-site toolmakers. If your project specifically demands temporary specialized onsite setup or repair, these costs are calculated separately based on the scope of the installation.
How is technical fit verified for tool and die work?
We conduct deep screening regarding die failure analysis and geometric reasoning. We look for the logic behind their material and process choices to ensure they can contribute immediately without extensive retraining on your equipment.
What is the fee structure for this placement?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire. Fee terms are set out in the signed agreement.
Pay snapshot
$64,050 annual median · $30.79 hourly median
SOC 51-4111: Tool and Die Makers. United States. Direct match.
BLS reports this occupation as Tool and Die Makers. A license or specialty is still checked separately.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Released 2026-05-15. No estimate replaces a missing BLS value.
See the full salary guideOpen roles
What happens in The Six-Step Search?
Every Skilled Trades Headhunters client search follows the same six named steps. Here is what happens at each one and what you get from it.
- 1
Intake and calibration
We agree on the work, location, pay, schedule and credentials before contacting anyone.
What you get: You get a clear role profile with the deal breakers named up front.
- 2
Targeted market research
We map the trade backgrounds and local or traveling talent that fit. We use relevant employer types, referrals and public license lookups where available.
What you get: You get a search aimed at the actual work, not a job title alone.
- 3
Personal outreach
We contact working tradespeople individually about the opening and what would make a move worthwhile.
What you get: You reach people who are not replying to your job advertisement.
- 4
Live qualification
Each person is talked through the scope, equipment and schedule in a live conversation. Applicable licenses are checked with the issuing authority.
What you get: You only hear about people who understand the job and want it.
- 5
Written shortlist insight
We present a short list with a written brief on each person: what they do now, what they want and what to probe.
What you get: You interview a few people instead of reading a stack.
- 6
Interview and offer support
We help you prepare interviews, discuss the offer and address counteroffers. We stay in touch through the agreed start.
What you get: You have support for the hiring decision. The signed agreement sets the replacement terms.
What we do not do
- No hourly billing and no workers on our payroll.
- No retainer unless agreed in writing.
- No reposting your opening on job boards.
- Not a same-day labor hall.
- No drug, MVR or background checks; your company runs any the role requires.
Details on how our fee works.
Start a Search
Hire a journeyman who builds progressive dies from scratch and manages heat treatment daily.
Contingency search. No fee unless you hire.
Tell us who you need.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.