Tooling Engineer

Job Title: Tooling Engineer II

Location: Middletown, CT

Zip Code: 06457

Start Date: ASAP

Job Type: Direct Hire

Pay: ​$85K-$96K

Shift: 8 hour shifts, starting between 7am-8am, M-F

A Tooling Engineer Level II job in Middletown, CT is currently available through Belcan. This is a direct hire position with our key aerospace client. The Tooling Engineer II is a mid-level engineering role responsible for designing, developing, maintaining, and improving tooling and fixtures used in the manufacturing and assembly of legacy fuzing products. This position requires a balance of sustaining existing tooling, troubleshooting issues, and designing new tools to support production efficiency and quality. The Tooling Engineer II collaborates with cross-functional teams, including Manufacturing, Quality, and Test Engineering, to ensure tools meet production requirements and comply with industry standards..

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Tooling Design and Development:

* Design and develop tooling, and fixtures. using SolidWorks, ensuring compatibility with legacy fuzing product manufacturing processes.  

* Create detailed 2D and 3D drawings, incorporating GD&T principles to ensure precision and manufacturability.  

* Develop new tooling solutions to address production challenges, improve efficiency, or support new product introductions as needed.

* Provide estimates for new tooling designs or modifications to existing tooling.

* Reverse engineer existing tooling where a drawing might not exist or is a hand drawn 2D drawing.

Tooling Maintenance and Improvement:

* Populate our tooling preventative maintenance database with existing tooling and determine the maintenance criteria for each tool. Execute the tool maintenance as defined in the database and record results.

* Maintain and troubleshoot existing tooling to ensure operational reliability and minimize downtime.  

* Analyze tooling performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance durability, precision, and production efficiency.  

* Modify or repair tools and fixtures to accommodate design changes or resolve manufacturing issues.  

Collaboration and Support:

* Work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, and Test Engineering teams to ensure tooling meets production and quality requirements.  

* Provide technical support, assisting with tooling setup, operator training, and issue resolution.  

* Participate in design reviews, providing input on tooling feasibility and manufacturability.  

Documentation and Compliance:

* Create and maintain detailed documentation, including tooling designs, specifications, and work instructions, using Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).  

* Ensure all tooling designs comply with GD&T standards and industry regulations.  

* Support compliance with safety, quality, and security protocols, including maintaining eligibility for a Secret security clearance.  

Project Management:  

* Manage small to medium tooling projects, including scoping, scheduling, and coordinating with vendors or internal machine shops for tool fabrication.  

* Track project progress and report updates to management, ensuring timely delivery within budget constraints.  

Continuous Improvement:  

* Identify opportunities to optimize tooling processes, reduce costs, and improve production throughput.  

* Stay current with industry trends, materials, and technologies to recommend innovative tooling solutions.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

* Bachelor"s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.  

* 2-5 years of experience in tooling design, manufacturing engineering, or a related  role, preferably in an assembly or production environment.  

* Demonstrated experience with SolidWorks for 3D modeling and 2D drawing creation. Familiarity with Product Document Management (PDM) software a plus. 

* Proficiency in applying GD&T principles to tooling designs and drawings.  

* Hands-on experience supporting manufacturing operations, preferably with established products or precision components.  

* Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for documentation and reporting.  

* Ability to learn local software packages and databases  

* Ability to troubleshoot and resolve tooling-related issues.  

PREFERRED QUALIFCATIONS:  

* Experience in a manufacturing environment for fuzing products, aerospace, or defense industries.  

* Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.  

* Knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, or other fabrication processes.