Lead Engineer - Tooling Process

Howmet Aerospace Inc.; Whitehall Township (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace Inc. in Whitehall, MI is seeking a Lead Tooling Process Owner to standardize tooling practices across the Business Unit, covering wax injection and ceramic core tooling. You will drive tooling standards, collaborate with multiple facilities, and enhance tool life, quality, and productivity.

The role requires 8+ years in tooling or investment casting, strong technical writing, and skilled cross-functional leadership. Travel up to 30% may be required; ITAR considerations apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering or manufacturing experience in tooling or investment casting.
• Experience developing engineering standards, technical specifications, or manufacturing procedures.
• Ability to travel up to 30% to facilities and suppliers.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical projects across multiple sites.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the BU technical authority for wax injection tooling and ceramic core tooling across all manufacturing locations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized tooling requirements and specifications.
• Author, maintain, and continuously improve the Tooling Manual documenting standards and requirements.
• Lead cross-functional workshops to establish consensus standards and drive enterprise adoption.
• Develop standardized tooling design guidelines to improve manufacturability and tool life.
• Standardize tool steel specifications, heat treatment, and hardness criteria.
• Partner with tooling manufacturers and heat treatment suppliers to improve quality and delivery.
• Lead development of standardized die maintenance practices to maximize tool life.
• Evaluate and implement advanced tooling technologies and inspection methods.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce tooling defects and costs.
• Establish tooling-related KPIs and monitor performance.
• Support new product introduction with appropriate tooling standards.
• Provide technical mentoring to engineers and plant teams.

Skills

Tooling design

Manufacturing processes

Investment casting

Heat treatment

Technical writing

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

Tooling simulation

Mold flow analysis

Job description

• Locations One Misco Drive, Whitehall, MI, 49461-1799, US (On-site)
• Job Schedule Full time
• Export-Controlled Data This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items

Responsibilities

The Howmet Engines Lead Tooling Process Owner may be located at any of the US Howmet Engines Business Unit facilities. He or she provides enterprise leadership for tooling technologies and standards supporting investment casting operations across Howmet Engine Products. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and governing standardized tooling practices for wax injection dies and ceramic core dies to improve safety, quality, productivity, tooling longevity, and manufacturing consistency across all facilities.

Essential Functions

Serve as the Business Unit technical authority for wax injection tooling and ceramic core tooling across all manufacturing locations.

Develop, implement, and maintain standardized tooling requirements and specifications for the business unit, including die materials, tool steel specifications, heat treatment, design rules, tool manufacturing requirements, maintenance practices, inspection standards, and supplier quality requirements.

Author, maintain, and continuously improve the Business Unit Tooling Manual documenting tooling standards, engineering requirements, and best practices.

Lead cross-functional workshops with manufacturing, engineering, quality, operations, and tooling suppliers to establish consensus standards and drive enterprise adoption.

Develop standardized tooling design guidelines to improve manufacturability, tool life, dimensional capability, wax injection quality, and ceramic core quality.

Standardize tool steel specifications, heat treatment processes, hardness requirements, and metallurgical acceptance criteria to improve tooling durability and coating performance.

Partner with tooling manufacturers and heat treatment suppliers to improve tooling quality, consistency, and delivery performance.

Lead development and implementation of standardized die maintenance practices that maximize tool life while minimizing downtime and repair costs.

Evaluate and implement advanced tooling technologies, including machining methods, artificial intelligence, coatings, surface treatments, wear-resistant materials, and inspection technologies.

Partner with engineering teams and external suppliers to improve die coating technologies that enhance tool life, wax release, ceramic core quality, dimensional capability, and overall casting quality.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing tooling defects, improving first-pass yield, extending tool life, and reducing tool costs.

Establish tooling-related KPIs and monitor business unit performance to identify opportunities for improvement.

Support new product introduction by ensuring tooling designs incorporate business unit standards and best practices.

Provide technical support and mentoring to manufacturing engineers, tooling engineers, and plant technical teams.

Benchmark internal and external best practices and identify emerging technologies applicable to investment casting tooling.

Travel to manufacturing facilities and suppliers as required to support tooling development, audits, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of engineering or manufacturing experience in tooling, manufacturing processes, or investment casting.
• Demonstrated expertise in tooling design, manufacturing, maintenance, or process engineering.
• Strong understanding of tool steels, heat treatment, machining processes, dimensional tolerancing, and tooling wear mechanisms.
• Experience developing engineering standards, technical specifications, or manufacturing procedures.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical projects across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Strong technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence technical direction and drive standardization without direct organizational authority.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% to manufacturing facilities and suppliers.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States, verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire, visa sponsorship is not available for this position
• This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. "Green Card Holder"), Political Asylee, or Refugee

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace investment casting manufacturing.
• Extensive experience with wax injection tooling and/or ceramic core tooling.
• Knowledge of tool steel metallurgy, vacuum heat treatment, tool coatings, and advanced surface engineering technologies.
• Experience developing tooling standards for multi-site manufacturing organizations.
• Familiarity with CAD, tooling simulation, mold flow analysis, and finite element analysis.
• Experience qualifying tooling suppliers and developing supplier engineering specifications.
• Knowledge of precision machining, EDM, and advanced tooling manufacturing technologies.
• Experience implementing predictive maintenance or digital tooling management systems.
• Experience leading enterprise best practice initiatives and technology roadmaps.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Project management experience leading large, cross-functional technical initiatives.

About Us

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. Our primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structural parts and forged wheels. With $8.3 Billion in revenue in 2025, our products play a crucial role in enabling fuel efficiency and lightweighting, contributing to our customers’ success and making a positive impact on the world. To learn more about the way Howmet Aerospace Inc. is advancing the sustainability of our customers, markets, and communities where we operate, review the 2025 Environmental Social and Governance report at www.howmet.com/esg-report . Follow: LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube .

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Howmet is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The Howmet engines business produces world-class aerospace engine components, including investment castings, fasteners, rings and forgings. Our vacuum melted superalloys, machining, performance coatings and hot isostatic pressing for high performance parts enable the next generation of quieter, cleaner and more fuel-efficient aerospace engines. Able to supply more than 90% of structural and rotating aerospace engine components.