Tool Maker

Airbus; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Belfast Limited is seeking a skilled Tooling Engineer to perform hands-on maintenance, repair, installation and servicing of production tooling to ensure high efficiency and equipment availability. You will work to engineering standards while adhering to safety and quality policies.

The role requires an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or toolmaking, plus 3 years' tooling experience, with strong drawing interpretation and problem-solving abilities.

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognised mechanical engineering or toolmaking apprenticeship with 3 years' post-apprenticeship tooling experience.
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings and documentation.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities for tooling faults.
• Good knowledge of Health & Safety standards and safe systems of work in manufacturing.
• Excellent collaboration with team leaders, quality engineers and operations.

Responsibilities

• Carry out scheduled maintenance, repairs and modifications on tooling to engineering standards.
• Diagnose and resolve tooling faults on the shop floor with proactive troubleshooting.
• Assist installation and alignment of tooling systems across production facilities.
• Complete daily tasks to meet schedule, cost and quality targets.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental and risk assessments.
• Support calibration and maintenance of metrology equipment.

Skills

Reading engineering drawings

Troubleshooting

Health & Safety standards

Team collaboration

Education

Mechanical engineering apprenticeship

Tools

Metrology equipment

Job description

Job Description:

GRADE: B08

LOCATION: Belfast, Tooling Engineering

RESPONSIBLE TO: Section Head, Tooling Engineering

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To perform hands‑on manufacture, maintenance, repair, modification, installation, and routine servicing of production tooling to ensure maximum operational efficiency and equipment availability that conform to engineering standards while adhering strictly to safety and quality standards.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Carry out scheduled maintenance, tool repairs, periodic routines, and modifications on a diverse range of production tooling to engineering standards in line with delivery schedules.
• Diagnose and resolve complex tool engineering and mechanical issues on the shop floor, using a proactive, hands‑on, troubleshooting approach.
• Support the installation, citing, and alignment of new and existing tooling systems across production facilities.
• Execute daily work assignments efficiently to meet schedule, cost, and quality targets set by the Tooling Team Leader.
• Conduct all tooling activities in full compliance with Health & Safety, Environmental legislation, Risk Assessments, and Safe Systems of Work.
• Support quality requirements by maintaining precise tool specifications and supporting the calibration/maintenance of related metrology equipment.
• Collaborate effectively with internal production, engineering, and quality teams to minimise operational downtime and maintain tool integrity.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives, proposing practical solutions to optimise tooling performance and workshop processes.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate how they meet essential job criteria, as this alone will be used for vetting purposes.

Candidates must:

• Have completed a recognised mechanical engineering or toolmaking apprenticeship together with 3 years’ proven post‑apprenticeship hands‑on tooling experience within a high‑precision manufacturing context.
• Ability to read, interpret, and work from complex engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Sound analytical and troubleshooting capabilities to diagnose and rectify mechanical and tooling faults.
• Solid working knowledge of Health & Safety standards, Risk Assessments, and safe systems of work in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively alongside Team Leaders, Quality Engineers, and Operations teams.

Closing date: 13/09/2026

Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria.

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part‑time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request.

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process - you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long‑term condition under the Equality Act 2010 and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To ‘opt in’, just select the option during your application submission and your application will be considered accordingly.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company: Airbus Belfast Limited

Employment Type: Permanent

Experience Level: Professional

Job Family: Manufacturing Engineering

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [e-mail].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.