Prototype Toolmaker & Injection Molding Specialist (Contract / DMV Area)

Job Type:
Contract / Freelance / Project-Based
Location:
Greater Washington, D.C. Area (Alexandria, Northern VA, D.C., Maryland) — Local candidate required for in-person handoff of physical parts.
About the Project:
Looking for a hands-on Prototype Engineer, CNC Machinist, or Toolmaker in the Washington, D.C. metro area to take a set of 3D STEP files and deliver a short run of retail-ready, glass-smooth plastic device enclosures.
This is an end-to-end contract role: you will program and mill a 2-piece 6061-T6 aluminum family mold block, apply an optical mirror polish to the primary cosmetic cavity, and run/tune the injection molding press to produce finished physical components with a premium hand feel.
Key Responsibilities:
CNC Machining: Program CAM toolpaths and mill a 2-piece 6061-T6 aluminum family mold insert block from provided 3D STEP files.
Mold Finishing: Apply an SPI-A2 (diamond paste mirror polish) to the primary cosmetic face cavity while maintaining sharp shut-off lines on non-cosmetic areas.
Injection Molding & Process Tuning: Mount the mold block into a desktop or small-scale injection press (e.g., benchtop pneumatic/hydraulic press or small industrial press). Dial in melt temperature, holding pressure, and cycle times to produce flawless parts free of flash, sink marks, or warping.
Part Delivery: Deliver initial sample units that meet strict cosmetic and tactile quality standards.
Requirements:
Access to a precision CNC mill capable of tight tolerance machining ($\pm0.002"$).
Access to a desktop or low-volume plastic injection molding setup.
Demonstrated experience with moldmaking, CAM programming, and diamond paste hand-polishing.
Strong understanding of processing engineering plastics (ABS, Polycarbonate, or PC/ABS blends).
Located within driving distance of the Washington, D.C. area.
To Apply:
Please send a direct message or apply with:
Photos or brief descriptions of past CNC aluminum molds or injection-molded plastic parts you’ve produced.
The CNC equipment and molding setup you plan to use for this project.
Estimated timeline and project rate or hourly rate

Work arrangement
Yes