Lead Tooling Process Engineer: Standardization & Innovation

Socket.dev; Whitehall Township (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace Inc. is seeking a senior The Howmet Engines Lead Tooling Process Owner to lead enterprise tooling standards across investment casting facilities in the US. This role drives safety, quality, productivity and tooling longevity while reducing downtime.

You will develop, implement, and govern standardized tooling practices for wax injection and ceramic core tooling, partnering with engineering teams and suppliers to improve tool life and casting quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline as listed.
• 8+ years engineering/manufacturing experience in tooling or investment casting.
• Expertise in tooling design, manufacturing, or maintenance.
• Strong knowledge of tool steels, heat treatment, machining, tolerancing, and wear mechanisms.
• Experience developing engineering standards or procedures.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical projects across sites.
• Strong technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence direction and drive standardization without direct authority.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% to facilities and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the BU technical authority for wax injection and ceramic core tooling across locations.
• Develop and maintain standardized tooling requirements, materials, and heat treatment specs.
• Author and improve the Tooling Manual with standards and engineering requirements.
• Lead cross-functional workshops to establish consensus standards and drive adoption.
• Create standardized tooling design guidelines to improve manufacturability and tool life.
• Partner with tooling manufacturers and heat treatment suppliers to improve quality and delivery.
• Lead die maintenance practices to maximize life and minimize downtime.
• Drive continuous improvement to reduce tooling defects and costs.
• Establish tooling KPIs and monitor BU performance for improvement opportunities.
• Support new product introductions ensuring standards are incorporated.

Skills

8+ years engineering/manufacturing exp

Tooling design

Engineering standards

Cross-functional leadership

Technical writing/communication

Influence without authority

Travel up to 30%

Aerospace tooling experience

Wax injection tooling

Ceramic core tooling

Tool steel metallurgy

Vacuum heat treatment

Tool coatings

Surface engineering

Multi-site tooling standards

CAD

Tooling simulation

Mold flow analysis

Finite element analysis

Supplier qualification

Predictive maintenance

Technology roadmaps

Six Sigma

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Materials/Metallurgical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CAD

Tooling simulation

Mold flow analysis

Finite element analysis

Supplier qualification tooling specs

Job description

Howmet Aerospace Inc. is seeking a senior The Howmet Engines Lead Tooling Process Owner to lead enterprise tooling standards across investment casting facilities in the US. This role drives safety, quality, productivity and tooling longevity while reducing downtime.

You will develop, implement, and govern standardized tooling practices for wax injection and ceramic core tooling, partnering with engineering teams and suppliers to improve tool life and casting quality.