Contract Toolmaker Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Tooling Design Engineer

Job Description

The Design Engineer supports engineering and manufacturing operations by designing, reviewing, and optimizing tooling, fixtures, and product solutions for aerospace and contract manufacturing applications. This role ensures that both new and customer-provided designs meet manufacturability, quality, and production requirements. The Tool Design Engineer collaborates closely with customers, engineering, and production teams to improve outcomes, support successful project execution, and contribute to continuous improvement across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate job feasibility for potential work and provide input to support accurate quoting.
• Design a wide range of tooling and fixtures, including layup tools, mill fixtures, lifting fixtures, and proof load fixtures for aerospace and contract manufacturing applications.
• Collaborate closely with customers to optimize designs, clarify requirements, and ensure technical and quality expectations are met.
• Create detailed 2D drawings and 3D models for internal use and for customer review and approval.
• Modify customer-provided designs to improve manufacturability, resolve interferences, and enhance production efficiency.
• Develop supplemental documentation such as work instructions, presentations, and extracted model data to support manufacturing and quality processes.
• Provide technical support and guidance to toolmakers, machinists, and production teams during fabrication and assembly of tooling and fixtures.
• Review work in progress to verify compliance with quality standards, engineering intent, and project goals.
• Troubleshoot design and manufacturing issues, identify root causes, and recommend practical, effective solutions.
• Communicate project updates, questions, risks, and status clearly and professionally with internal teams and customers.
• Participate actively in team and engineering meetings to support continuous improvement initiatives and share best practices.
• Maintain compliance with company quality systems, procedures, and documentation standards.
• Ensure a safe, clean, and organized work environment and follow all applicable safety and quality guidelines.

Essential Skills

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in design, aerospace machining, or a closely related field.
• Proficiency in CAD software, with CATIA strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and written procedures.
• Strong mathematical skills, including working comfortably with fractions, decimals, and basic calculations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with internal teams and customers.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, handle changing deadlines, and organize work effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of organizational skills in design and documentation.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively as part of a team.
• Familiarity with precision measuring tools such as micrometers and calipers.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling proprietary designs, customer data, and company information.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Additional technical training or education in engineering, design, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in aerospace or contract manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with tooling and fixture design, including custom tooling design rather than only large-scale production tooling.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and production support activities, including shop floor interaction.
• Experience with new product development and design-for-manufacturability principles.
• Mechanical design experience with knowledge of tooling design, fixture design, and aerospace applications.
• Strong blueprint reading skills and understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing concepts.
• Ability and motivation to grow into a subject-matter expert in complex tooling design and become a master of the trade.
• Experience with Tool Design is not required but preferred.

Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based, with regular collaboration across engineering, production, and customer-facing teams. The role includes occasional time on the shop floor to support manufacturing activities, review work in progress, and troubleshoot tooling and fixture designs. The environment is fast-paced and deadline-driven, with changing priorities that require flexibility and strong organizational skills. You will work with modern CAD tools, office productivity software, and precision measuring equipment while contributing to complex aerospace tooling projects in a setting that encourages continuous learning and technical mastery.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Winfield, KS.

The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $53.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Winfield,KS.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.