Senior Tooling Engineer

Collins Aerospace; Kilkeel; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Early finish on Fridays

9 Public Holidays

Ability to buy & sell annual leave

Life Assurance

Group Income Protection

Professional Development & Growth

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, is seeking a Senior Tooling Engineer for our Manufacturing Team onsite. You will oversee tooling projects from concept to production, manage vendor relationships and drive cost efficiency across composites and thermoplastics tooling.

The role focuses on end-to-end project management, IPT collaboration, and maintenance planning to ensure safe, high-quality tooling solutions that align with manufacturing capabilities.

Qualifications

• Hold or be working towards a third-level qualification in Aeronautical, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in tooling engineering.
• Experience managing tooling programmes end-to-end and collaborating with IPTs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee tooling projects end-to-end, including vendor selection, budgeting, commissioning and acceptance for composites and thermoplastics.
• Design, manage and oversee maintenance for all tooling across production.
• Provide tooling cost estimates to support programme planning and approvals.
• Collaborate with Integrated Product Teams to develop optimised tooling solutions.
• Create and maintain tooling documentation, standards and specifications.
• Plan and manage tooling maintenance schedules to meet production needs.
• Support tool maintenance and repair shop activities on the shop floor.
• Drive continuous improvement in tooling strategies, cost efficiency and quality.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Education

Third-level qualification in Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering or related

Tools

GD&T

Tooling design

Job description

Do you want to be part of a team working on cutting-edge innovations that shape the future of air travel? If so, Collins Aerospace is looking for a Senior Tooling Engineer to join our Manufacturing Team onsite in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland!

At Collins Aerospace Kilkeel, we push the boundaries of innovation, prioritise safety and drive cost efficiency. Our mission goes beyond transporting people from point A to point B; we strive to make air travel more comfortable, connected, and secure. As a global leader in aviation interior products and services, we partner with airlines and original equipment manufacturers to deliver outstanding travel experiences.

What Will Do

• Oversee tooling projects end-to-end, including vendor selection, budgeting, commissioning, and acceptance for the manufacture of all composite and thermoplastic components using both internal and external resource.
• Design, manage, and oversee maintenance for all tooling for the manufacture of composites and thermoplastics using both internal and external resources.
• Provide tooling cost estimates to support programme planning and approvals.
• Collaborate with Integrated Product Teams (IPT) to develop optimised tooling solutions aligned with current manufacturing capabilities.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, tooling standards, and specifications.
• Plan and manage tooling maintenance schedules in line with production needs.
• Support and guide tool maintenance and repair shop activities.
• Partner with Operations to resolve tooling-related challenges on the shop floor.
• Drive continuous improvement in tooling strategies and performance, cost efficiency, and product quality.
• Promote a safe working environment aligned with company standards.
• Any other duties as deemed relevant to the position.

What Will Learn

• Advanced composite and thermoforming tooling design and manufacturing processes
• End-to-end project management of tooling programmes
• Cross-functional collaboration within Integrated Product Teams
• Vendor management and external supplier engagement
• Continuous improvement methodologies, including lean manufacturing principles
• Problem-solving in a high-performance production environment
• How to optimise tooling for efficiency, cost, and quality in a real-world setting
• Hold, or be working towards, a third-level qualification in Aeronautical, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a Tooling Engineer role or comparable professional engineering role
• Ability to design new tooling, from initial concept to production
• Experience of working with external vendors to deliver tooling packages
• Understanding of GD&T
• Experience in composite production techniques & processes.
• Experience in thermoforming
• Experience in tool manufacturing
• Understanding of lean manufacturing techniques
• Ability to think logically whilst ensuring day to day operation objectives are met.

What We Offer

We are committed to providing an industry-leading benefits package. Our offerings include:

• 25 days Annual Leave & 9 Public Holidays
• Ability to buy & sell annual leave
• Attractive Compensation Package
• Private Medical Insurance
• Early finish on Fridays
• Flexible benefits tailored to you
• Discounted gym membership
• Life Assurance
• Group Income Protection
• Professional Development & Growth
• Support with professional fees
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Staff Discounts
• Work/Life Balance
• Wellness Programs
• Employee Recognition
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Free onsite parking
• Opportunities for progression and development

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.