Senior Tooling Engineer

Adcole; Marlborough (MA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Adcole in Marlborough, MA seeks a Senior Tooling Engineer to own tooling solutions for precision metrology systems. You will define tooling requirements, lead design and lifecycle management of custom tooling, and work with Sales, Assembly, Test, and customers to ensure effective tooling solutions and documentation.

Required: BS in Mechanical Engineering, 7–10+ years in tooling/design, GD&T and ISO 9001 experience, and proficiency in Inventor/SolidWorks with AutoCAD.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (required).
• 7–10+ years in precision tooling design or related high‑accuracy manufacturing.
• Strong GD&T, ISO 9001 experience, and ability to read complex drawings.
• 3D modeling in Inventor or SolidWorks; 2D AutoCAD familiarity.
• ERP systems experience, Syteline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interpret GD&T-based drawings to define tooling requirements for sub‑micron measurements.
• Lead design, development, and lifecycle management of custom tooling and fixturing.
• Create detailed drawings in Inventor/SolidWorks; specify tooling components.
• Make independent decisions on materials, tolerances, and tooling modifications.
• Lead tooling quotes, communicate with Sales, and support customers.

Skills

GD&T

Tooling design

Manufacturing engineering

Quality documentation

Shop-floor problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Inventor

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Syteline ERP

Job description

About Adcole

Adcole has been designing and manufacturing precision measuring machines since 1957. Our systems measure cylindrical and rotating components - EV drive and rotor shafts, camshafts, crankshafts, pump shafts, and robotic reducer shafts - for customers across automotive, heavy- and medium-duty diesel, and industrial machinery markets. Manufacturers including Ford, GM, Caterpillar, John Deere, Cummins, Toyota, Honda, BMW, VW, Stellantis, SAIC, and Formula One teams such as Red Bull and Ferrari rely on Adcole systems as the gage of record for their components.

We're headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with about 100 employees across five global locations. All manufacturing happens in Massachusetts, and we ship to customers worldwide. It's a long-tenured team - people here tend to stay and build careers.

The Role

We're looking for a hands‑on Senior Tooling Engineer to take ownership of the custom tooling and fixturing used across our precision metrology systems and special projects. This is a good fit for someone with real experience in tooling, fixturing, GD&T, precision machining, and shop‑floor problem solving.

You'll work closely with Sales, Engineering, Assembly, Test, vendors, and customers - defining tooling solutions, supporting quotes, sourcing components, troubleshooting build and test issues, and making sure tooling is properly documented from concept through customer acceptance.

This is an individual contributor role with lead‑level scope. Over time, it's meant to grow into the go‑to technical resource for tooling applications at Adcole.

What This Role Offers

• Ownership of a critical tooling function, with real visibility and decision‑making authority
• Complex, custom, low‑volume work - not repetitive production runs
• Direct involvement in high‑precision metrology systems used by customers worldwide
• Close collaboration with experienced machinists, engineers, assembly, test, and sales teams
• A stable, Massachusetts‑based manufacturer with a long‑tenured workforce

What You’ll Do

Tooling Strategy & Technical Ownership

• Interpret complex GD&T‑based manufacturing drawings to define tooling requirements that support sub‑micron measurement of customer components
• Lead the design, development, and lifecycle management of custom applications, including camshaft/crankshaft timing, orientation, fixturing, and critical fits
• Develop detailed manufacturing drawings and assemblies using parametric 3D modeling software such as Inventor or SolidWorks
• Specify and support custom tooling, including precision headstock drive centers, tailstock centers, calibrated master artifacts, and measurement probes
• Make independent decisions on materials, tolerances, fits, and tooling modifications

Quoting, Sales & Customer Support

• Lead tooling quote development based on customer requirements
• Provide tooling scope, assumptions, risks, and summary notes to the Sales team
• Communicate directly with customers to clarify technical requirements
• Support new opportunities by identifying tooling needs and feasibility considerations
• Support customers on major OEM‑specific engineering and spare part documentation

Sourcing & Vendor Management

• Source standard and custom machine tool components
• Identify and manage key vendors for specialized tooling needs
• Evaluate make‑vs‑buy decisions
• Coordinate modifications such as milling, grinding, finishing, or customization of tooling components

Production Support, Build & Test

• Provide hands‑on support during assembly, testing, and customer acceptance
• Diagnose tooling‑related issues involving fit, alignment, function, and performance
• Act as the primary tooling resource for shop‑floor questions and special applications
• Support special projects that fall outside standard gage sales

Documentation & Systems

• Maintain the tooling drawing database, tooling numbers, and serial number records
• Organize tooling files, quote folders, historical tooling records, and BOM documentation
• Support tooling BOM creation and production release in Syteline or a similar ERP system
• Draw on historical tooling and prior builds to support repeat or similar applications

What You Bring

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• 7–10+ years of experience in precision tooling design and machining, fixturing, manufacturing engineering, or a similarly high‑accuracy manufacturing environment
• Strong grasp of ISO drafting documentation, including GD&T, critical tolerancing, and DFM principles, with the ability to read complex technical drawings
• Experience working in a quality‑driven, ISO 9001‑compliant environment
• 3D modeling experience in Inventor, SolidWorks, or equivalent, plus familiarity with 2D AutoCAD
• Working knowledge of core machining processes - turning, milling, drilling, precision grinding, lapping - and inspection tools such as calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, surface plates, and gage blocks/pins
• Hands‑on experience with custom tooling, fixtures, precision components, or mechanical assemblies
• A track record of making sound independent decisions in ambiguous or custom applications
• Practical shop‑floor experience supporting builds, testing, troubleshooting, or customer acceptance
• Comfort communicating across Sales, Engineering, Assembly, Test, vendors, and customers
• Familiarity with ERP systems, BOMs, and manufacturing documentation - Syteline experience is a plus
• Preferred: experience in a custom, low‑volume, high‑mix manufacturing and design environment

Compensation

$115,000 – $135,000. Final offer depends on experience, technical depth, and demonstrated ability to operate independently.

What Success Looks Like in the First 6–12 Months

Within the first 6–12 months, you'll build a strong working knowledge of Adcole's tooling applications, historical records, vendors, and internal processes, and become a trusted technical resource for Sales, Assembly, Test, and shop personnel. That means being able to:

• Independently review customer drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements to determine the right tooling approach
• Make sound decisions on fixturing, fits, tolerances, materials, and tooling modifications
• Provide hands‑on support during assembly, testing, and runoff - troubleshooting fit, alignment, timing, and function issues
• Support custom, low‑volume, and non‑standard applications where the solution isn't already documented or repeatable
• Communicate clearly with Sales, customers, vendors, Assembly, and Test to resolve issues and keep projects moving
• Build enough tooling knowledge and internal confidence to take ownership of the tooling function, with appropriate support during the transition

Adcole is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.