Engineer Tool Design

PDS Tech, Inc.; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

PDS Tech Commercial is seeking an experienced Tool Design Engineer to design precision tooling for aerospace production in Palmdale, CA. You will create 3D CATIA models, detailed drawings, and GD&T analyses to support tooling development and prototypes.

The role requires a PE certification, strong CATIA skills, and experience with stress analysis. This is a full-time, 12-month contract in an engineering-focused environment.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of CATIA design experience.
• Knowledge of ANSI/ISO drawing standards.
• Experience applying GD&T to drawings.
• Ability to perform engineering stress analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design tooling, dies, gauges, jigs and fixtures for production and experimental use.
• Create detailed drawings and 3D models with tolerancing analyses.
• Apply GD&T to engineering drawings and ensure standards compliance.
• Lead technical discussions and coordinate with suppliers and customers.

Skills

CATIA

3D modelling

GD&T

Stress analysis

Technical writing

Education

Professional Engineer (PE) certification

Tools

CATIA

Job description

Engineer Tool Design

Design the precision tooling that transforms advanced aerospace concepts into reality.

Location: Palmdale, CA 93550Fnort
Job Type: Full-Time | 12-Month Contract
Schedule: Monday-Friday | 9/80 Schedule
Pay Rate: $71.74 per hour

Put Your Engineering Expertise to Work at the Forefront of Aerospace

PDS Tech Commercial is partnering with a leader in the aviation and aerospace industry, to hire an experienced Engineer Tool Design 3 in Palmdale, California.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished Tool Design Engineer to apply advanced CATIA, GD&T, stress analysis, and mechanical design expertise to sophisticated production and experimental tooling. You'll help develop the machinery, fixtures, gauges, and specialized tooling that enable complex aerospace manufacturing while balancing performance, accessibility, manufacturability, and cost.

If you're ready to take ownership of challenging designs and bring your technical expertise to a high-performance engineering environment, this opportunity is built for you.

What You'll Do

As an Engineer Tool Design 3, you'll:

• Design industrial machinery, equipment, tools, dies, gauges, jigs, fixtures, and machine attachments for production and experimental applications.
• Develop tooling solutions with careful consideration for performance, accessibility, mobility, economy, and manufacturability.
• Create detailed drawings, 3D models, exploded views, and tolerance stack‑up analyses using supplied sketches, marked prints, layouts, catalog references, and other technical information.
• Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) to engineering drawings.
• Generate detailed drawings in accordance with ANSI, ISO, and other applicable industry design standards.
• Perform required stress analysis and provide professional engineering approval/stamping.
• Support the design and development of testing and prototype fixtures as needed.
• Design components incorporating a variety of manufacturing processes, including castings, forgings, stampings, powdered metal, machine‑turned components, and molded plastics.
• Follow internal engineering procedures, customer requirements, drafting guidelines, and established standards.
• Participate in supplier and customer meetings to understand requirements and develop solutions that balance functionality, feasibility, performance, and cost.
• Coordinate and lead job or task clarification meetings with local team members when necessary.
• Manage technical details and priorities while ensuring assigned tasks are completed within established project timelines.

Required Qualifications

We are seeking an experienced engineering professional with:

• 6+ years of CATIA design experience, with high proficiency in 3D modeling and detailing.
• Strong understanding of detailed drawing requirements and applicable ANSI and ISO standards.
• Experience applying GD&T to engineering drawings.
• Demonstrated ability to perform engineering stress analysis.
• Professional Engineer (PE) certification with the ability to stamp applicable engineering work.
• Experience producing technical drawings, tolerance stack‑up analyses, exploded views, and 3D models.
• Knowledge of component design across multiple manufacturing processes.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively organize and manage complex technical details.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work collaboratively with suppliers, customers, engineering teams, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to meet established project schedules and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

Standout candidates may also bring:

• Previous experience designing aerospace tooling, production fixtures, or prototype/testing fixtures.
• Extensive CATIA experience within an aerospace, aviation, defense, or advanced manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of design for manufacturability and assembly.
• Experience working with suppliers and customers to resolve complex engineering and tooling challenges.
• Broad understanding of manufacturing methods, materials, fabrication processes, and tooling requirements.
• Experience leading technical discussions or design clarification meetings.
• Proven ability to balance engineering performance with feasibility, schedule, and cost considerations.

Why Join Us?

At PDS Tech Commercial, we connect highly skilled professionals with opportunities to contribute to some of the aviation and aerospace industry's most sophisticated programs.

This opportunity offers:

• Competitive pay of $71.74 per hour
• A full‑time, 12‑month contract opportunity
• A desirable 9/80 work schedule
• The opportunity to apply advanced CATIA, GD&T, and stress analysis expertise
• Challenging projects that allow you to take ownership of complex engineering solutions
• Collaboration with talented engineering, manufacturing, supplier, and customer teams
• An environment that values technical excellence, precision, innovation, accountability, and teamwork
• The opportunity to contribute your expertise to tooling that supports advanced aerospace manufacturing

Your designs won't simply exist on a screen. They'll help enable the tooling, equipment, and manufacturing solutions needed to bring sophisticated aerospace programs to life.

Ready to Design What Comes Next?

If you're an experienced Tool Design Engineer with advanced CATIA capabilities, a Professional Engineer certification, and the ability to perform and stamp stress analysis, we want to hear from you.

This position requires use of information or access to facilities subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations may limit access of controlled technologies: 1) to U.S. Persons, including U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other narrow categories including refugees and asylees, or 2) to certain foreign nationals that have received an export license.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to https://www.pdstech.com/candidate-privacy

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only:

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 subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Pay Details: $71.74 per hour

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan.

Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs.

In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.