Aerospace Tooling Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Composite Tooling Manager – Build amp; Lead a Class-A Tooling Operation
This is not a position for someone looking to simply maintain an existing department. It is an opportunity for an experienced composite tooling professional to take the wheel, build something exceptional, and put their own mark on the future of a growing tooling operation.
Piedmont Composites amp; Tooling (PCT) is seeking an experienced Composite Tooling Manager to lead and further develop our existing tooling team.
For more than 54 years, PCT has built a strong reputation producing high-quality fiberglass components for OEM customers across a diverse range of industries. We are now making a significant commitment to expand that same reputation into our composite tooling division.
The foundation is already in place. We are looking for the right person to help us take it to the next level.
PCT has recently commissioned a new large-format 5-axis CNC capable of machining plugs and patterns up to approximately 28.5 ft. long × 13.2 ft. wide × 8 ft. high. This machine complements our existing smaller 5-axis CNC, large-format curing oven, established manufacturing facility, and experienced composites workforce.
What we need now is a leader with the technical knowledge, craftsmanship, drive, and vision to turn those capabilities into an outstanding Class-A tooling operation.
This is a hands-on leadership position for someone with proven experience producing plugs, patterns, master models, and molds from fiberglass and other composite materials—particularly tooling requiring Class-A finishes for automotive and other appearance-critical applications.
You will have the opportunity to develop people, establish processes, improve capabilities, influence future equipment and technology decisions, and help determine where PCT's tooling division goes next.
The position reports directly to the President, giving the Tooling Manager an unusual level of access, responsibility, and ability to influence the future of the department.
What You Will Be Responsible For
Build, lead, train, and develop a skilled composite tooling team.
Establish and enforce tooling procedures, inspection points, workmanship standards, and repeatable processes.
Manage multiple tooling projects, schedules, labor requirements, priorities, and ongoing maintenance of existing tooling.
Construct and supervise the construction of plugs, patterns, master models, and composite molds.
Produce tooling capable of consistently delivering production-ready Class-A, Class-B, and Class-C surfaces.
Inspect tooling throughout the build process and identify problems before they become finished-tool problems.
Diagnose and correct surface defects including waves, ripples, sanding marks, porosity, pinholes, print-through, orange peel, witness lines, poor edge definition, and other cosmetic imperfections.
Oversee sanding, fairing, blocking, priming, polishing, buffing, sealing, and mold-release preparation.
Perform and supervise splash layups, mold fabrication, mold repair, mold modification, and preventative mold maintenance.
Estimate labor requirements, material usage, 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 an organized, efficient, professional, and safe tooling department.
Lead from the front and perform hands-on tooling work when the job requires it.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for more than someone who has worked around molds.
We want someone who knows composite tooling.
The successful candidate should understand what separates an acceptable mold from an exceptional one and possess the craftsmanship and judgment required to recognize problems before they reach the customer.
Required Qualifications
Minimum 5 years of advanced composite tooling experience.
Proven experience producing Class-A plugs and molds is a plus, or at least the ability to get it there.
Previous supervisory, management, or team-lead experience.
Strong knowledge of fiberglass and composite tooling construction.
Demonstrated ability to train employees and hold a team accountable to defined standards.
Strong understanding of surface preparation and finishing procedures.
Exceptional attention to detail and a highly developed eye for surface quality.
Ability to plan work, troubleshoot problems, and make independent manufacturing decisions.
Strong character, work ethic, professionalism, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities.
Experience That Will Set You Apart
Experience in any of the following areas is especially valuable:
Automotive, transportation, marine, aerospace, recreational, thermoforming, or other appearance-critical tooling.
Polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, fiberglass, tooling board, foam, wood, tooling gelcoat, primers, and surface coatings.
Plug and mold framing, reinforcement, dimensional stability, shrinkage control, and post-curing.
Taking tooling projects from customer data or CAD models through completed, production-ready molds.
Large-format CNC machining and CAD/CAM processes.
Open molding, infusion, LRTM, RTM, or related composite manufacturing processes.
Developing work instructions, quality standards, inspection procedures, and employee training programs.
Why Consider PCT?
For the right tooling professional, this position offers something that is becoming increasingly difficult to find:
The opportunity to actually build something.
You will not be stepping into a large corporate structure where every process, decision, and direction has already been determined.
You will have the opportunity to use your experience to help shape the department—its people, processes, quality standards, capabilities, equipment, and ultimately its reputation.
PCT offers:
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.
Approximately five weeks of paid time off between holidays, vacation accrual, and flex time.
A four-day workweek — Monday through Thursday.
The opportunity to build and lead a growing composite tooling department.
Direct access to company ownership.
The ability to materially influence PCT's future tooling capabilities and growth.
A diversified customer and product portfolio that provides stability while the company continues to grow.
Work Schedule
Monday through Thursday
6:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
PCT's regular operations are closed on Fridays.
PCT also closes for the week of July 4th and for the period between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, in addition to other recognized national holidays.
Additional Requirements
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 and able to perform the hands-on work necessary to build exceptional composite tooling.
About Piedmont Composites amp; Tooling
Piedmont Composites amp; Tooling is a fiberglass parts and tooling manufacturer located in Taylorsville, North Carolina, with convenient access to Statesville, Mooresville, Conover, Hickory, Lenoir, Wilkesboro, and the greater Charlotte region.
Located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Coast, the area offers an excellent combination of manufacturing heritage, outdoor recreation, and quality of life.
For more than 54 years, PCT has manufactured products serving automotive, marine, water recreation, signage, architectural, industrial, composite tooling, and other custom fiberglass applications.
Our diversified portfolio provides stability while allowing us to continue investing in new equipment, technology, facilities, and people.
PCT's culture is built around integrity, high standards, personal responsibility, direct communication, courtesy, respect, and solving problems rather than making excuses.
We have made significant investments in our tooling capabilities.
Now we are looking for the person who can help us maximize them.
If you are an accomplished composite tooling professional who has spent your career developing the knowledge to produce exceptional plugs and molds—and you want the opportunity to build a department rather than simply inherit one—we would like to talk with you.
If you believe you can build and lead a Class-A composite tooling operation, we encourage you to apply.