Tooling Engineer

Responsibilities

• Own the design and delivery of production tooling from initial concept through deployment on the shop floor or in the field.
• Partner with engineers, technicians, and operators to understand the underlying process and develop solutions that improve quality, speed, safety, and repeatability.
• Build quick prototypes when speed matters, then mature the design into robust, documented, maintainable equipment.
• Bring up automated and semi-automated production equipment, including sensor integration, actuator selection, control panels, PLC logic, HMIs, and machine safety features.
• Troubleshoot tooling and equipment issues in real time, including mechanical failures, control logic problems, operator usability issues, tolerance stackups, and process variation.
• Create CAD models, detailed drawings, BOMs, work instructions, commissioning plans, and maintenance documentation.
• Work with internal teams and external vendors to fabricate, source, assemble, test, and improve custom tooling and production equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing and deployment processes by reducing cycle time, improving ergonomics, simplifying operations, and increasing first-pass success.
• Establish practical tooling standards and best practices as Northwood scales from low-rate builds to repeatable production and deployment.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronics, robotics, electrical engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ 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.

Preferred 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.

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.