Tooling Engineer

DESE Research, Inc. is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Tooling Engineer position. If you feel like you have the skills and qualifications for this job, please apply now!

Job Details:

The candidate will support the design, development, and documentation of tooling used for manufacturing, ground support, and test operations. This role involves generating 3D and 2D engineering drawings in accordance with ASME-Y14.5, developing operational concepts, analyzing specifications, and supporting the creation of technical work products such as tooling requirements and statements of work. The candidate will work closely with manufacturing, systems, and design engineering teams to deliver high-quality mechanical tooling solutions, including MGSE and production tooling for composite and structural applications. A successful candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, and capable of working across a variety of hardware and operational domains.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related field

• Ability to create engineering drawings compliant with ASME-Y14.5 standards

• Experience with mechanical design or tooling development

• Ability to communicate technical requirements clearly and work within a multidisciplinary engineering environment

• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance 

Responsibilities:

Engineering Drawings & Design Standards

• Generate 3D and 2D engineering drawings that meet ASME-Y14.5 standards.

• Create detailed models, assemblies, and documentation supporting tooling, fixtures, and ground hardware.

Concept of Operations (CONOPs) Development

• Develop CONOPs outlining operational intent, workflow, and usage scenarios for tooling and MGSE.

• Clearly define operational steps, environmental considerations, and integration processes.

Requirements Development

• Analyze specifications and program documentation to author tooling requirements.

• Interpret system needs and translate them into actionable tooling performance criteria.

Statement of Work (SOW) Development

• Develop SOW inputs using provided templates to support tooling procurement and fabrication activities.

• Document deliverables, acceptance criteria, and technical expectations for vendors and suppliers.

Analysis Support

• Perform simple hand calculations or FEA analyses to support composite reflector antenna tooling or structural design needs.

• Provide engineering rationale and verification for tooling performance and safety.

MGSE & Production Tooling Development

• Develop mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) and production tooling such as rotisseries, test fixtures, handling aids, and structural weldments.

• Support the lifecycle of tooling from concept through fabrication, integration, and validation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience designing MGSE, production tooling, or custom mechanical fixtures

• Familiarity with composite manufacturing, reflector structures, or antenna systems

• Experience with CAD modeling and drawing-generation tools

• Understanding of manufacturing processes, weldments, and structural design principles

• Strong organizational and documentation skills

• Motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple tasks

About DESE:

For the past 43 years, DESE has provided industry-leading technical and engineering solutions in the fields of Defense, Energy, Space, and Environment. As a small, family-oriented business, DESE provides a compelling benefits package including a generous profit-sharing plan, competitive salaries, and perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to work alongside talented engineers leveraging cutting-edge technologies to solve complex and engaging problems.

Why employees love working for DESE:

At DESE, we are committed to creating a company that is known for its respect and care for employees. We understand that happy employees are what keeps our business going and we strive to provide the best opportunities for each individual working on our team! Here are a few reasons you will love working here:

• Competitive health, dental and vision insurance with affordable premiums

• Flexible work schedules

• Two different flexible spending account options

• Company paid life insurance with options for employee paid additional

• Performance bonus program

• Education reimbursement program

• Company paid personal leave for approved philanthropic activities

• Vacation, Sick & Holiday leave

• Robust 401k profit sharing plan

• Opportunities for internal promotions

• Employee referral incentive program

• Rewards and gifts for service anniversaries

Disability Accommodation for Applicants – DESE Research, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in its job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the following alternative email address or phone number to contact us about your interest in employment with us: hrandsecurity@dese.com or 256-837-8004x123.