Aerospace Composite Tooling Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Piedmont Composites & Tooling (PCT) is seeking an experienced Composite Tooling Manager to build, develop, and lead our existing tooling department.

This is a hands‑on leadership position for someone with proven experience producing plugs, patterns, and molds made of fiberglass and other composite materials, capable of achieving Class‑A finishes for automotive and other appearance‑critical industries. The Tooling Manager will oversee a small but growing team, establish repeatable processes, train employees, manage multiple projects, and ensure that all tooling meets PCT’s quality, schedule, and workmanship standards.

This position reports directly to the president and offers the opportunity to play a major role in the continued growth of PCT’s tooling division.

• Build, lead, train, and develop a skilled composite tooling team
• Establish and enforce tooling procedures, inspection points, and workmanship standards
• Manage multiple tooling projects, schedules, labor requirements, priorities, including ongoing maintenance of existing tooling
• Construct and supervise the construction of plugs, patterns, master models, and composite molds
• Produce tooling capable of delivering consistent, production‑ready Class‑A surfaces
• Review tooling throughout the build process and identify quality concerns before completion
• Diagnose and correct surface defects, including waves, ripples, sanding marks, porosity, pinholes, print‑through, orange peel, witness lines, and poor edge definition
• Oversee sanding, fairing, blocking, priming, polishing, buffing, sealing, and mold‑release preparation
• Perform and supervise splash layups, mold fabrication, mold repair, mold modification, and mold maintenance
• Estimate labor, materials, build methods, and project timelines
• Provide technical input for customer quotations and new tooling opportunities
• Read and interpret CAD drawings, models, dimensions, tolerances, and customer specifications
• Coordinate finishing requirements for CNC‑machined plugs, patterns, and tooling components
• Track labor hours, material usage, project status, quality concerns, and completion dates
• Maintain a clean, organized, efficient, and safe tooling department
• Lead by example and perform hands‑on tooling work when needed

• Minimum of five years of advanced composite tooling experience
• Proven experience producing Class‑A plugs and molds
• Previous supervisory, management, or team‑lead experience
• Strong knowledge of fiberglass and composite tooling construction
• Ability to train employees and hold a team accountable to defined standards
• Strong understanding of surface preparation and finishing procedures
• Excellent attention to detail and a highly developed eye for surface quality
• Ability to plan work, solve problems, and make independent manufacturing decisions
• Strong character, work ethic, professionalism, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities

• Automotive, transportation, marine, aerospace, recreational, thermoforming, or other appearance‑critical tooling experience
• Experience with polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, fiberglass, tooling board, foam, wood, tooling gelcoat, primers, and surface coatings
• Knowledge of plug and mold framing, reinforcement, dimensional stability, shrinkage control, and post‑curing
• Experience taking tooling projects from customer data or CAD models through production‑ready molds
• Familiarity with large‑format CNC machining and CAD/CAM processes
• Experience with open molding, infusion, LRTM, RTM, prepreg, or related composite processes
• Experience creating work instructions, quality standards, inspection procedures, and employee training programs

• Competitive salary based on experience and demonstrated ability
• Health, vision, and dental benefit eligibility beginning on the first day of employment
• Up to a 3 % company match on 401(k) contributions after one year
• Five weeks of paid time off split between holidays, vacation accrual, and flex time
• Opportunity to build and lead a growing composite tooling department
• Direct access to company ownership and the ability to influence PCT’s future growth

• Proficient with email, Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, and project documentation
• Able to read CAD drawings and manufacturing specifications
• Must pass a drug test and background check
• Must possess a valid driver’s license
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be able to work on your feet for extended periods
• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds
• Must be able to push, move, and work around large plugs, molds, and tooling structures
• Must be willing to perform the hands‑on work required to build high‑quality composite tooling

Monday through Thursday, 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PCT operations are closed on Fridays.

PCT closes for the week of July 4th and for the days between Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day including other national holidays.

Piedmont Composites & Tooling is a fiberglass parts and tooling manufacturing company with a highly diversified portfolio located in Taylorsville, North Carolina, with convenient access to Statesville, Mooresville, Conover, Hickory, Lenoir, Wilkesboro and Charlotte.

For more than 50 years, PCT has produced automotive, marine components, water recreations, signage, architectural, industrial products, composite tooling, and other custom fiberglass products.

PCT’s culture is centered on hard work, high standards, personal responsibility, direct communication, courtesy, respect, and a professional, solutions‑focused work environment. We have made significant investments in our facilities, equipment, technology, and people to create a strong foundation for the company’s next 50 years.

Qualified tooling professionals who have the experience and leadership ability to build a Class‑A composite tooling operation are encouraged to apply.