Position Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Mechanical Engineer – Tooling, Fixtures & CAD/CAM to support a growing precision manufacturing operation serving aerospace, defense, medical device, and industrial customers.

This role is for someone who can take a customer's drawing or 3D model and determine how to manufacture the part. You will design tooling and fixtures, develop CAD/CAM solutions, support CNC machining, troubleshoot manufacturing issues, work with outside suppliers, and spend meaningful time on the production floor turning designs into repeatable manufacturing processes.

The right candidate is comfortable moving between CAD/CAM work, CNC equipment, vendors, customer requirements, and hands-on manufacturing problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Design molds, mandrels, machining and bonding fixtures, trim guides, gauges, and other production tooling.
• Develop 3D CAD models and manufacturing solutions from customer drawings and STEP models.
• Create CAM programs for CNC mills and routers and support program prove-out with machinists.
• Perform tolerance stack-ups and support tooling material, clamping, and manufacturing-method decisions.
• Troubleshoot tooling, dimensional, fit, and manufacturing problems directly on the production floor.
• Work with production and quality teams to investigate nonconforming parts and identify practical corrective actions.
• Review engineering drawings and GD&T requirements and identify potential manufacturability issues.
• Support inspection planning, gauges, CMM/FARO requirements, and other measurement strategies.
• Develop tooling requirements, estimated hours, and costs for new customer programs.
• Request and evaluate quotes from machine shops, material suppliers, and outside manufacturing vendors.
• Support multiple customer programs from initial model and tooling development through production.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on experience designing tooling, fixtures, molds, or related production equipment.
• Strong 3D CAD capability.
• CAM programming experience for CNC machining.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Practical understanding of how parts, tooling, and fixtures are manufactured.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems on the manufacturing floor rather than working exclusively from CAD models.
• Strong problem-solving skills and consistent follow-through.
• Ability to communicate effectively with machinists, production employees, suppliers, customers, and engineering personnel.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and follow them through completion.
• Must meet applicable U.S. Person requirements for ITAR-controlled work.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline OR equivalent hands-on manufacturing, tooling, CAD/CAM, machining, or engineering experience.

A degree is not required for a candidate who can demonstrate the necessary technical and hands-on capability.

Strongly Preferred Experience

• Autodesk Fusion 360 CAD/CAM.
• Haas CNC machining centers.
• Tool and fixture design.
• Mold making or tool-and-die.
• Composite or carbon-fiber manufacturing.
• Injection molding or other tooling-intensive manufacturing.
• CNC machining of aluminum, plastics, foam, or composite materials.
• FARO arm, PolyWorks, CMM, or other metrology systems.
• 3D printing for manufacturing tooling, jigs, or fixtures.
• AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, aerospace, defense, or medical-device manufacturing.

You should be proficient in:

• Machine Building/Assembling
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
• Design for Assembly (DFA)
• Mechanical Design & Engineering
• Aerospace Manufacturing
• CAD/CAM Software

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• CNC Automation Solutions
• CNC Laser Cutter
• CNC Lathe (2-4 axis)
• CAD Software
• CAM Software
• CNC Lathe (5+ axis)
• Calipers and Micrometers