Tooling Design Engineer

Actalent; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 163,328,000 - 206,309,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k)

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

HSA

Transit Benefits

EAP

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Actalent in Centennial, CO is seeking a Tooling Design Engineer to design, develop, and sustain tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment for advanced propulsion assembly. You will own projects from concept through fabrication, validation, and release while working closely with Manufacturing, Design Engineering, and Quality teams.

The role combines hands-on floor support with CAD design, GD&T application, and ASME Y14 standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of tooling/fixture design or manufacturing engineering experience.
• Experience in aerospace/defense or complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience creating 3D CAD models and detailed drawings.
• Experience performing tolerance stack-up analyses.
• Strong GD&T knowledge.
• Ability to work cross-functionally on the shop floor.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids for manufacturing.
• Lead tooling projects from concept to production release.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing to troubleshoot challenges.
• Create 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and documentation.
• Perform tolerance stack-up and fit/function analyses.
• Apply GD&T and ASME Y14 standards to drawings.
• Support configuration control and release processes.
• Evaluate tooling for manufacturability, safety, and cost.
• Participate in design reviews and cross-functional discussions.
• Provide hands-on support during fabrication and qualification.
• Manage multiple tooling projects with production schedules.
• Drive continuous improvement and standardization.

Skills

Tooling design

Aerospace/manufacturing

3D CAD modeling

Tolerance stack-up

GD&T knowledge

Cross-functional teamwork

U.S. Citizenship

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

ANSYS

Model Based Definition (MBD)

Product Manufacturing Information (PMI)

Job description

Job Title: Tooling Design Engineer

We are seeking a Tooling Design Engineer to support the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of tooling, fixtures, mechanical ground support equipment, and assembly support hardware used in the production of advanced propulsion systems. This engineer will work closely with Manufacturing, Design Engineering, Quality, and Production teams to develop practical tooling solutions that improve assembly efficiency, repeatability, ergonomics, safety, and overall manufacturing performance. The ideal candidate combines strong CAD design capabilities with hands‑on manufacturing knowledge and enjoys troubleshooting complex tooling challenges directly on the manufacturing floor. This role is highly visible and owns tooling projects from initial concept through release, fabrication, implementation, validation, and sustaining support.

Responsibilities

• Design tooling, fixtures, assembly aids, and support equipment used throughout manufacturing and assembly operations.
• Own tooling projects from concept, design, and analysis through fabrication, implementation, and production support.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations teams to troubleshoot production challenges and develop tooling solutions.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and engineering documentation.
• Perform tolerance stack-up and fit/function analyses.
• Apply GD&T and ASME Y14 standards to tooling designs and manufacturing drawings.
• Support configuration control and engineering release processes.
• Evaluate tooling designs for manufacturability, usability, durability, safety, and cost effectiveness.
• Participate in design reviews and cross‑functional engineering discussions.
• Provide hands‑on support during fabrication, qualification, inspection, and implementation activities.
• Manage multiple tooling projects simultaneously while supporting production schedules.
• Drive continuous improvement and tooling standardization efforts.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of tooling design, fixture design, mechanical design, or manufacturing engineering experience.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, aviation, propulsion, or other highly complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience creating 3D CAD models and detailed engineering drawings.
• Experience performing tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Strong GD&T knowledge.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally in manufacturing environments.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Siemens NX experience.
• Teamcenter experience.
• ANSYS experience.
• Tooling structural analysis experience.
• Mechanical Ground Support Equipment experience.
• Lifting fixture or transportation tooling experience.
• Turbine engine or propulsion hardware experience.
• Model Based Definition (MBD) experience.
• Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) experience.

Work Environment

This is a fully onsite engineering position supporting both office‑based design work and hands‑on manufacturing floor activities. Engineers can expect a balanced mix of CAD design, design reviews, production support, troubleshooting, and interaction with fabrication and assembly teams. The environment is fast‑paced, collaborative, and highly technical. Individuals who enjoy seeing their designs implemented in production and solving practical manufacturing problems will excel in this role.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Centennial, CO.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $57.00 - $72.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type: This is a fully onsite position in Centennial, CO. Application Deadline: This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

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 be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.