Solidworks Designer Contract Jobs in Riverside, CA

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years. ABOUT THE TEAM Anduril's Sentry team is seeking a Tooling Engineer to join our Manufacturing team. The Tooling Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, and deploying the fixtures, jigs, gauges, and specialized tooling that enable the high-quality, repeatable production of our advanced defense hardware systems. This role works closely with manufacturing, design, quality, and supply chain teams to create tooling solutions that meet the demanding requirements of defense manufacturing - including precision assembly, ergonomic operator interaction, and scalable throughput across our production lines. ABOUT THE JOB The right person for this role can demonstrate past holistic ownership of tooling solutions for complex electromechanical products, with a proven ability to balance precision, cost, and lead time in a fast-paced, resource-limited environment. If you are someone who thrives in such an environment and enjoys the challenge of building the tools that build sophisticated systems, then this role is for you. WHAT YOU'LL DO * Lead tooling development from concept through production, delivering fixtures, jigs, gauges, and assembly aids that enable safe, repeatable, and efficient manufacturing of Sentry products. * Own tooling design execution, validation, supplier coordination, and issue resolution, serving as the technical expert for tooling across new and existing products within the Sentry product family. * Develop and refine detailed tooling design documentation, including CAD models, drawings, specifications, and work instructions to ensure consistent quality and repeatability in manufacturing processes. * Partner with Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, PMO, Quality, and Test Engineering to ensure tooling feasibility, readiness, and production line alignment. * Apply DFM/DFA, GD&T, and Value Engineering principles to balance precision, ergonomics, manufacturability, durability, and cost in tooling design. * Create and maintain accurate 3D CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and specifications within PDM/PLM systems to ensure manufacturing consistency. * Support prototype builds, pilot runs, and production ramp to ensure scalable execution of tooling solutions across internal and contract manufacturing sites. * Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for tooling-related quality, downtime, and field issues. * Drive cost savings, cycle time reduction, and ergonomic improvements across existing tooling designs and processes. * Research and implement new materials, manufacturing methods, and automation technologies to improve tooling performance and efficiency. * Collaborate with internal machine shops and external suppliers to meet compliance, quality, cost, and timeline targets for tooling fabrication. * Standardize tooling documentation, specifications, and engineering best practices across the organization. * Support adoption of simulation, validation, and AI-enabled design tools to enhance tooling design capabilities and efficiency. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS * Degree in a technical field such as Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline * 5+ years of experience in tooling or manufacturing engineering, preferably for electronic, electromechanical, or defense products * Demonstrated ability to design and validate fixtures, jigs, and gauges for precision assembly and inspection * Experience with tooling materials selection, machining processes, and tolerance analysis * Strong working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and metrology principles * Proficiency with CAD software for mechanical design (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) * Experience with tooling validation methodologies including Gauge R&R and First Article Inspection * Extremely organized and detail-oriented * Excellent verbal & written communication skills * Experience in tooling configuration management and change control processes * Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS * Experience designing tooling for military or defense applications * Demonstrated success in designing tooling for products with challenging assembly requirements (precision optics, RF systems, sensitive electronics, etc.) * Experience with pneumatic, hydraulic, or electromechanical actuated fixtures * Hands-on experience with machining, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, and other tooling production methods * Experience with poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) design principles and lean manufacturing methodologies * Experience with tooling for products at different stages of maturity, from prototypes to high-volume production * Familiarity with automation, robotics integration, or semi-automated assembly systems * Prior experience working with JIRA, Siemens NX, Teamcenter (PLM), or Oracle (ERP) or equivalents * Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for tooling lifecycle management and traceability * Experience supporting tooling deployment across distributed manufacturing sites or contract manufacturers * Familiarity with calibration programs and tooling preventative maintenance systems US Salary Range $129,000 - $171,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: Benefits At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits . Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: * No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. * Please always verify communications: * Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. * Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to . * Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. * What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ . By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security. Create a Job Alert Interested in building your career at Anduril Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email. Create alert