Mechanical Engineer (Manufacturing Tooling)

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer (Manufacturing Tooling)

Who Are We Looking For?:Not your typical engineering desk job; want to get your hands dirty? If you're the type who spends weekends on automotive projects, welding/metal fabrication, machining, woodworking, robotics, etc., this is the job for you! We value engineers who love creating with both their minds and their hands. What Will You Do?:Design innovative custom tooling and fixtures that enable successful manufacture, assembly, inspection, testing, transportation, and protection of aerospace and defense products. Responsible for developing custom tooling solutions for Electronics Manufacturing, Environmental Test, Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE), shipping containers, space antennas, and satellite systems while ensuring compliance with customer requirements, contractual specifications, and industry standards. Lead engineering investigations and develops new or improved tooling concepts that optimize manufacturability, quality, repeatability, safety, and production efficiency. Evaluates key design factors including material selection, structural integrity, equipment capabilities, ergonomics, interchangeability, maintainability, schedule, and cost to deliver robust, reliable, and cost‐effective tooling solutions. Utilize CAD software (PTC Creo) to create detailed 3D models, assemblies, engineering drawings, layouts, BOMs, and technical documentation that accurately communicate tooling design intent and support production. Ensure all custom tooling designs and engineering documentation are complete, accurate, verified, and released in accordance with configuration management processes. Develop rapid prototypes through the department's Additive Manufacturing Lab to evaluate form, fit, and function, enabling early design validation and accelerated development. Partner closely with the department's machine shop to transition tooling designs into fabricated hardware, assisting with tool assembly and providing technical guidance throughout the manufacturing process to ensure tooling is produced in accordance with engineering intent. Work directly with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, Product Design Engineering, and program teams to troubleshoot issues, implement design improvements, and successfully transition tooling to the manufacturing floor. Provide hands-on support through the complete tooling lifecycle by assembling, integrating, and validating tooling and fixtures to verify functionality and ensure design intent is achieved. Maintain close engagement with manufacturing personnel after deployment to support continuous improvement, resolve production challenges, and optimize tooling performance, enabling efficient production and long-term product reliability.

Ensure the design is documented and meets all requirements by creating, reviewing, and approving: Material selection, CAD parts and assemblies, detailed drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs), drawing release, part fabrication, part inspection, integration & proof loading, and verification of product performance on the manufacturing floor

Experience with additive manufacturing/rapid prototyping techniques and equipment: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), 3D printing, etc. Applies meticulous attention to detail to design, analysis, and documentation Possesses a high level of initiative and willingness to learn Strong sense of responsibility, ownership, and follow-through Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills Ability to multitask, work with team members, and independently research design solutions#LI-CG1