Tooling Project Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

This position leads a major aerospace manufacturing ramp-up and rate-readiness program within a forging operation during a critical period of commercial growth. The Project Manager takes full ownership of planning and executing production readiness, aligning people, equipment, processes, suppliers, and quality systems to achieve safe, compliant, and on-time delivery performance. This is a highly visible role that operates both on the shop floor and with the leadership team, building structure where none exists, driving disciplined execution, and shaping the project management function from the ground up.

• Lead end-to-end ramp-up and rate-readiness plans for major aerospace commercial programs, coordinating execution across operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, maintenance, finance, HR, production, and external vendors.
• Develop and maintain integrated master schedules and resource plans that include long-lead raw materials, outside processing, tooling, equipment capacity, staffing and training, and first-article and qualification milestones.
• Create and manage project structures, schedules, and governance as the first and only Project Manager, ensuring clear priorities, disciplined execution, and effective risk management from day one.
• Own the project risk and opportunity register, identify constraints such as capacity, labor, tooling, yield, inspection throughput, and supplier performance, and drive mitigation and recovery plans with defined owners, due dates, and escalation paths.
• Establish, track, and report ramp-up key performance indicators, including schedule attainment, on-time delivery, throughput and cycle time, capacity utilization, yield, scrap, rework, and work-in-process and lead time metrics, and provide data-driven recommendations to leadership.
• Facilitate daily and weekly operating cadences such as tier meetings, readiness gate reviews, and cross-functional problem-solving sessions, ensuring clear agendas, documented decisions, and timely closure of action items.
• Manage project budgets and capital and tooling plans, track actuals versus plan, forecast to completion, and support purchase justification, vendor coordination, equipment installation, and commissioning activities.
• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure supplier readiness and long-lead procurement for materials and processes such as billet and ingot, die steel, heat treat, non-destructive testing, and machining, including capacity and risk assessments and recovery plans.
• Coordinate manufacturing readiness deliverables, including process flows, work instructions and routers, inspection plans, gage strategy, and control plans, in alignment with customer requirements and the site quality system, including standards such as AS9100 and NADCAP where applicable.
• Drive disciplined change control throughout ramp-up, including engineering changes, tooling changes, routing revisions, and inspection changes, ensuring impacts on cost, schedule, capacity, and customer commitments are assessed, communicated, and managed.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and operations to support ramp-up, capacity expansion, and new program start-up activities, ensuring production sequences, constraints, and dependencies are understood and reflected in project plans.
• Utilize ERP and MRP systems to manage demand, capacity, and material plans, support master scheduling, and maintain accurate project and production data.
• Engage with executive leadership, including plant leadership, to provide transparent status updates on a large-scale, multi-year program and to ensure alignment on priorities, trade-offs, and resource allocation.
• Hold cross-functional teams accountable to commitments, influence without direct authority at all levels of the organization, and foster a culture of structured execution and continuous improvement.
• Support quality and compliance initiatives by integrating aerospace quality requirements and special process controls into project plans and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Contribute to the development of the project management function by introducing best practices, tools, and processes that improve predictability, communication, and performance across the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree required; an engineering discipline such as Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or Metallurgical engineering is preferred, with degrees in supply chain, finance, or business also considered.
• At least 3 years of hands-on project or program management experience in a manufacturing environment, with demonstrated ability to create structure, build schedules, manage risks, and drive execution independently.
• Manufacturing environment experience is mandatory, including understanding of how production environments operate, the importance of sequence and routing, and how to navigate and work effectively on the shop floor.
• Project management expertise as the primary competency, including scope, schedule, cost, and risk management for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Experience developing and maintaining integrated master schedules and resource plans, using tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent project scheduling software.
• ERP and MRP system experience, with the ability to work with manufacturing data, capacity models, and planning processes; familiarity with systems such as Great Plains and Microsoft Dynamics 365 is beneficial.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and planning processes such as Sales and Operations Planning, Master Production Scheduling, and Material Requirements Planning.
• Experience managing large-scale programs, including multi-year and multi-million-dollar initiatives, with responsibility for schedule, budget, and performance outcomes.
• Budget and capital expenditure tracking experience, including managing actuals versus plan and forecasting to completion.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities in a high-tempo, highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly across all levels of the organization, including executive leadership.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across functions and levels using clear priorities and data.
• High degree of organization, methodical working style, and process-driven mindset, with the ability to create structure where none currently exists.
• Comfort working extensively on the production floor as well as in an office environment, shifting focus as program phases require.
• Working knowledge or familiarity with aerospace quality requirements such as AS9100 and special process controls such as NADCAP, or willingness to learn these standards.

• Experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing is strongly preferred, particularly in environments with stringent quality and regulatory requirements.
• Ramp-up, capacity expansion, or new program start-up experience is a strong differentiator and highly valued for this role.
• Exposure to forging, heat treat, non-destructive testing, machining, and first-article and qualification workflows is a plus.
• Experience with project scheduling tools such as MS Project or Smartsheet, along with comfort working with Excel and business intelligence dashboards.
• PMP certification or active pursuit of PMP is preferred and demonstrates commitment to professional project management standards.
• Lean or Six Sigma experience, and familiarity with Advanced Product Quality Planning and Production Part Approval Process, are advantageous.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle is a plus, in addition to familiarity with Great Plains and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Engineering background combined with project management experience is highly desirable, although project management skills remain the top priority.
• Ability to work effectively as the sole Project Manager, introducing project management best practices and governance to a growing organization.
• Comfort influencing without direct authority and holding cross-functional teams accountable in a matrixed environment.
• Experience collaborating with supply chain and strategic sourcing teams, even when procurement responsibilities are limited.
• Ability to translate complex technical and operational details into clear plans, priorities, and communications for diverse stakeholders.

The role is 100% onsite at an aerospace forging facility, with approximately 60% of time spent on the production floor and 40% in an office environment; depending on the program phase, some weeks may shift to a more floor-heavy split such as 70% on the shop floor and 30% at a desk. The facility operates as a precision metal forging operation, with close interaction with equipment, tooling, production lines, and special processes such as heat treat, non-destructive testing, and machining. The position is newly created, and the Project Manager will be the sole owner of project execution and project management practices within the site. The role offers high visibility with direct interaction with the CEO, VP of Operations, and plant leadership, as well as broad cross-functional exposure to engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, HR, production, and external vendors. The environment is fast-paced, highly regulated, and quality-focused, requiring frequent movement between the shop floor and office-based planning and reporting activities. The culture emphasizes ownership, accountability, and data-driven decision-making, providing autonomy to build and shape the project management function and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on a major multi-year program.

This is a Permanent position based out of El Cajon, CA.

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $130000.00/yr.

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 El Cajon,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 19, 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 without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment 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 the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall 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 applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.