Lead Fixture Builder

Waltonen Engineering Inc.; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Vacation & Holiday Pay

401K Employer Matching

Tuition Reimbursement

FSAs

Disability Insurance

Employee Referral Program

Voluntary Benefits

Off-site Events & Luncheons

Job summary

Independence Tooling is seeking a Lead Fixture Builder to join our team in a hands-on, small-shop environment. You will build fixtures and tooling from drawings and CAD models while balancing leadership, scheduling, and project coordination with engineering and manufacturing.

You will interpret blueprints and GD&T, perform precision fitting and testing, and troubleshoot issues to maximize uptime and quality across projects for automotive and aerospace tooling.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of Fixture/Tool Building.
• Knowledge of materials, machining, assembly methods, and mathematics.
• Familiar with automotive and aerospace tooling, jigs, fixtures, and gauges.
• Ability to read blueprints and technical documentation.
• Prior assembly experience required.

Responsibilities

• Build and assemble fixtures, jigs, gauges, and tooling from drawings and CAD models.
• Interpret blueprints and GD&T to ensure accuracy and quality.
• Lead a small fixture build department, balancing hands-on work with supervision and scheduling.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing to meet budgets and timelines.
• Perform precision fitting, alignment, and adjustment of fixture components.
• Operate hand and power tools and machining equipment to fabricate parts.
• Conduct functional testing and verify successful operation of fixtures.
• Troubleshoot fixture issues to minimize downtime and optimize efficiency.

Skills

Fixture Building

Machining Knowledge

Blueprint Reading

Automotive Tooling

Job description

Independence Tooling is actively seeking a Lead Fixture Builder to join our team!

Responsibilities

• Build andassemble fixtures, jigs, gauges, and tooling according to engineering drawings, CAD models, and specifications.
• Interpret blueprints, GD&T requirements, and technical documentation to ensure accurate fixture construction and assembly.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the fixture build department in a small-shop environment, balancing hands-on fixture construction with team leadership, scheduling, and project coordination.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for fixture builds, collaborating with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to customer specifications.
• Perform precision fitting, alignment, and adjustment of fixture components to meet required tolerances and quality standards.
• Operate hand tools, power tools, and machining equipment to fabricate, modify, and repair fixture components.
• Conduct functional testing and verification of completed fixtures to ensure proper operation and repeatability.
• Troubleshoot and resolve fixture-related issues to minimize production downtime and maintain manufacturing efficiency.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of Fixture/Tool Building
• Knowledge of materials, machining, assembly method and mathematics
• Familiar with automotive and aerospace tooling, jigs, fixtures, and gauges
• Ability to read blueprints
• Prior assembly experience required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, automotive, or defense

All employees are required to work within the confines and responsibilities of the quality system.

Benefits

• Medical,Dental & Vision Insurance
• Vacation and Holiday pay
• Employer matching 401K
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Programs(FSAs)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability insurance
• Employee Referral Program
• Additional Voluntary Benefit Programs
• Off-site company events & Employee Luncheons

Who are we?

Independence Tooling is a leader in high-precision custom tooling, jigs, and assembly equipment for the automotive, aerospace, heavy machinery, defense, and energy industries. Our in-house capabilities meet the most stringent industry requirements and deliver high-quality cost-effective solutions. Encouraged by the team approach we foster, our craftsmen proudly commit themselves to meeting client needs on time and within budget.

Waltonen Engineering, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and will consider qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, weight, height, or the presence of a non-job-related medical condition or handicap.