Computer Aided Designer Jobs in Vermont (NOW HIRING)

The Composites Tooling Engineer designs, validates, and continuously improves the molds, fixtures, cure tooling, and supporting equipment that enable safe, repeatable, and scalable composite-part production. This hands-on role partners with Composites Manufacturing, Design Engineering, Quality, and suppliers to translate product requirements into robust production tooling and clear manufacturing documentation.

How you will contribute to revolutionizing electric aviation:

• Design and release composite manufacturing tooling, including molds, trim and drill fixtures, assembly fixtures, inspection fixtures, caul plates, and handling equipment
• Develop tooling concepts and detailed designs that account for part geometry, tolerances, thermal behavior, demold strategy, ergonomics, durability, inspection access, and production rate
• Own tooling from requirements capture through concept selection, CAD design, drawing release, supplier support, first-article validation, production handoff, maintenance, and continuous improvement
• Partner with Design Engineering to provide design-for-manufacturability feedback, including tooling splits, draft, ply drops, core transitions, bondline control, and access for layup, cure, trim, and inspection
• Work directly with technicians on the production floor to observe tooling use, resolve issues rapidly, reduce variation and cycle time, and improve safety and ergonomics
• Create and maintain tooling drawings, bills of material, usage instructions, inspection criteria, and maintenance requirements
• Define and support tooling acceptance activities, including dimensional verification, scan-to-CAD comparison, fit checks, first-part inspection, and capability improvements
• Coordinate with internal shops and external suppliers on fabrication approach, quoting, inspection, delivery, and tooling changes
• Support composite process development and scale-up across layup, debulk, cure, bonding, trimming, drilling, and assembly operations
• Identify cost, capacity, quality, and throughput opportunities; develop technical requirements and business cases for new tooling and equipment capability
• Contribute to standardized tooling design practices, reusable design solutions, lessons learned, and corrective-action activities for tooling-related issues

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent relevant experience will be considered
• 3+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including design and delivery of production tooling, fixtures, or composite manufacturing equipment
• Proficiency in professional CAD and creation of engineering drawings; experience with NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent tools, including surface modeling workbenches
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and deliver complex, multi-piece tooling from requirements through production use
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and datum strategy for tooling and part interfaces
• Ability to interpret part models, engineering drawings, composite ply definitions, and manufacturing requirements
• Experience supporting aerospace composite structures or another high-reliability, regulated manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with dimensional inspection methods, including CMM, laser scanning, or geometric/scan-data analysis
• Strong communication skills across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, take ownership of ambiguous technical problems, and work safely in a hands-on manufacturing environment

Above and Beyond Qualifications:

• Knowledge of composite processes such as prepreg layup, resin infusion/VARTM, compression molding, wet layup, or out-of-autoclave curing
• Experience with machining, CNC programming considerations, additive manufacturing, and fabrication methods for composite tooling
• Experience designing tooling for high-temperature cure processes and managing coefficient-of-thermal-expansion effects
• Familiarity with PLM/PDM, configuration control, change management, and manufacturing-document release processes
• Working knowledge of Python, MATLAB, VBA, or other automation tools used for engineering workflows, inspection analysis, or manufacturing data

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• This role is based in Burlington/South Burlington, Vermont and requires regular presence on the production floor. The engineer must be able to stand, walk, bend, and crouch for extended periods and occasionally lift or handle tooling components. Work may involve exposure to composite materials, resins, and curing agents; appropriate PPE is required. The environment includes both office and manufacturing settings, with varying noise levels and temperature conditions typical of an active aircraft production facility