Senior Tooling Engineer
$118,400–$148,000 year
On-siteLos Angeles, California, United States or Torrance, California, United States
Job Summary
Design and deliver production tooling from concept through shop floor or field deployment, partnering with engineers and operators to improve quality, speed, and safety. Build quick prototypes, mature designs into robust equipment, and bring up automated systems including sensor integration, PLC logic, and machine safety features. Troubleshoot real-time issues involving mechanical failures, control logic, and process variation while creating CAD models, drawings, and maintenance documentation. Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to fabricate custom tooling and drive continuous improvement across manufacturing processes. Requires Top Secret Security Clearance, willingness to work extended hours and weekends, and 5+ years of hands-on hardware experience.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronics, robotics, electrical engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- 5+ years of experience designing, building, or supporting tooling, fixtures, production equipment, manufacturing systems, or automation equipment
- Strong mechanical design fundamentals, including structures, mechanisms, tolerances, material selection, manufacturability, and maintainability
- Experience with CAD and drawing release workflows
- Hands-on experience building, assembling, debugging, and improving hardware in a shop, lab, production, or field environment
- Experience developing tools or equipment used by operators, technicians, manufacturing teams, or field teams
- Working knowledge of electromechanical systems, pneumatics, actuators, sensors, motors, or motion-control hardware
- Familiarity with automation and controls concepts, including PLCs, ladder logic, relays, HMIs, industrial sensors, and machine safety systems
- Ability to take ambiguous process needs and turn them into working hardware quickly
- Strong communication skills and ability to work across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, test, operations, and deployment teams
- High ownership, strong bias toward action, and comfort working in a fast-paced hardware environment
- Experience taking tooling from prototype through production release, including validation, documentation, operator training, and maintenance planning
- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
Desired Qualifications
- Experience designing, commissioning, or maintaining automated or semi-automated production equipment
- Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, AutomationDirect, or similar systems
- Experience writing, modifying, or troubleshooting ladder logic, structured text, HMI screens, or machine control sequences
- Experience with robotic dispensing, adhesive dispensing, gantries, machine vision, precision alignment systems, or coordinated motion systems
- Experience designing lifting, rigging, hoist, crane, cart, ergonomic handling, or field deployment equipment
- Experience supporting aerospace, satellite, RF, robotics, automotive, industrial automation, or other high-reliability hardware production
- Familiarity with machine guarding, lockout/tagout, risk assessments, and equipment safety standards
- Experience working directly with machinists, fabricators, technicians, operators, and external vendors
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