Precision Tooling Apprenticeship Trainee

Precision Tooling Apprenticeship Trainee

Picture your first week: you’re on the shop floor at Wiegel Tool Works, shadowing master Tool and Die Makers as they set up dies, measure to microns, and dial in precision. By late afternoon, you’re building confidence at a machine station, then two evenings a week you head to the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) for hands-on coursework that connects theory to everything you touched that day. Day by day, you advance from helper to contributor to trusted maker.

Program Highlights

• Five-year, earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship
• 10,000 paid hours of on-the-job learning at Wiegel headquarters
• Three years of TMA instruction—tuition and related educational costs fully covered by Wiegel
• Full-time employee status for the duration of the program
• Typical workweek: 40+ hours, Monday through Friday
• Evening classes at TMA twice weekly (3-hour sessions)
• TMA academic calendar of two 14-week semesters each year
• Nationally recognized Certificate of Completion issued by the U.S. Department of Labor upon graduation
• Clear pathway to a full-time Journeyman Tool and Die Maker role at Wiegel

Your Rewards & Support

• Health, dental, and life insurance
• Supplemental insurance options
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Retirement savings plan
• Additional employee perks and development opportunities

Skills You’ll Practice and Master

• Tool design, die machining, and die assembly
• Turning, machining, jig boring, jig grinding, and die grinding
• Electrode manufacturing, plunge EDM, and wire EDM operation
• CNC machining and CNC programming, including wire programming
• Polishing, finishing, heat treat preparation, and hole popping
• Layout inspection, quality inspections, and sensor applications
• Press room operations and die maintenance/repair

Who Thrives Here

• High school diploma or GED preferred
• Hands-on mechanical curiosity and a strong desire to learn
• Interest in manufacturing, machining, and engineering concepts
• Collaborative mindset and reliable team habits
• Strong attendance and commitment to finishing the apprenticeship
• Comfort with math, measurement, and practical problem-solving
• Capability to meet the physical demands of a production environment

Why This Apprenticeship Stands Out

• Develop a respected, well-paid trade with no student debt
• Earn a paycheck while building real products and tooling
• Use advanced equipment and modern manufacturing technologies
• Grow technical troubleshooting and precision-thinking skills
• Experience multiple processes across the toolroom and press room
• Build a professional network within a thriving industry
• Graduate with nationally recognized credentials and long-term prospects

Your Career Trajectory

Complete the program with confidence, credentials from the U.S. Department of Labor, and the opportunity to step into a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker role at Wiegel Tool Works. Start as an apprentice—grow into a maker whose work powers world-class manufacturing.