Tooling Engineer

Job Title: Tooling Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on developing, designing, analyzing, and implementing custom tooling and equipment used to assemble and test a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites. The Tooling Engineer supports the full lifecycle from research and development through design validation and into production, converting cross-functional requests into tooling systems that are easy to use, cost-effective, accurate, and robust. This position operates in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment and offers the opportunity to work with technical leaders while continuously improving product performance, quality, and cost.

Responsibilities

• Develop, design, and implement custom tooling and equipment for satellite assembly and qualification/acceptance testing (QTP/ATP).
• Convert requirements and requests from various engineering and manufacturing teams into practical, user-friendly, and cost-effective tooling solutions.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, drawings, and documentation for complex tooling systems, fixtures, and mechanisms.
• Perform structural analysis of tooling and fixtures using both hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to ensure stiffness, strength, and reliability.
• Plan and manage tooling projects, including defining scope, estimating costs, developing schedules, and tracking progress against milestones and budgets.
• Support and oversee the fabrication of tooling, working closely with internal and external fabrication resources to ensure quality and manufacturability.
• Coordinate and participate in the testing, commissioning, and validation of tooling in the manufacturing environment to ensure safe, effective, and repeatable operation.
• Design and refine mechanisms, bolted and welded structures, assembly fixtures, alignment fixtures, test fixtures, rigging solutions, and material handling tools.
• Apply mechanical engineering fundamentals to address structural dynamics, weldments, and bolted joint design for tooling and fixtures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems that span multiple technical domains and manufacturing disciplines.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve tooling performance, quality, and cost, maintaining high standards for design excellence and operational efficiency.
• Utilize practical knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, and rapid prototyping techniques to optimize tooling design and fabrication.
• Incorporate feedback from production and test operations to iterate and enhance tooling usability, safety, and robustness.
• Support adherence to export control requirements by ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to project work.
  
  

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or relevant equivalent experience.
• 3 years of experience with CAD design of complex systems, including 3D modeling and detailed drawings.
• 3 years of experience performing structural analysis, including hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• 1 years of experience with project management, including scheduling and budgeting responsibilities.
• Hands-on fabrication experience with mechanical components, fixtures, or tooling.
• Proficiency with CAD tools for 3D modeling, preferably Siemens NX.
• Experience designing mechanisms, fixtures, and structural components for complex mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals, including stiffness, strength, structural dynamics, weldments, and bolted structures.
• Ability to translate functional requirements into practical, manufacturable tooling and equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, intellectually challenging environment while maintaining high standards for quality and performance.
  
  

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience designing tooling solutions specifically for aerospace hardware.
• Strong background in the design of mechanisms, bolted and welded structures, assembly fixtures, alignment fixtures, test fixtures, rigging solutions, and material handling equipment.
• Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials commonly used in assembly tooling and rapid prototyping.
• Experience using Siemens NX for 3D modeling and Simcenter 3D for FEA simulation.
• Laser tracking experience for alignment or metrology applications is a plus.
• Formal training or certification in Operational Excellence systems such as Lean, 5S, or Six Sigma is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking and sound engineering judgment in complex and ambiguous situations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to wear many hats and contribute across multiple technical and operational domains.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and technical leaders.
  
  

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Redmond, WA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $68.00/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
  
  

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Redmond,WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.