Tooling Design Engineer III

Applied Medical; Rancho Santa Margarita (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Education reimbursement program

401(k) program with employer match

Generous vacation accrual

Job summary

Applied Medical is seeking a Tooling Design Engineer III in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. This role focuses on designing and improving tooling for extrusion processes, ensuring manufacturing efficiency and product quality. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, over 5 years of mechanical design experience, and strong proficiency in SolidWorks. The position offers a competitive salary of $85,000 - $120,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including training and mentorship opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical or tooling design within manufacturing.
• Proficient in SolidWorks to build complex parts and assemblies.
• Ability to communicate clearly with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design tooling for new extrusion components.
• Modify existing tooling designs for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with engineers to troubleshoot tooling issues.

Skills

SolidWorks

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GDT)

Problem-solving skills

Adaptability

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or Biomedical Engineering

Tools

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Job description

Applied Medical is a new-generation medical device company with a proven business model and commitment to innovation fueled by rapid business growth and expansion. Our company has been developing and manufacturing advanced surgical technologies for over 35 years and has earned a strong reputation for excellence in the healthcare field. Our unique business model, combined with our dedication to delivering the highest quality products, enables team members to contribute to a larger capacity than is possible in typical positions.

Position Description

The Tooling Design Engineer III plays a critical role in supporting extrusion manufacturing by designing, modifying, and sustaining tooling used in production. This role contributes directly to product quality and manufacturing efficiency by developing robust tooling solutions, improving existing designs, and supporting troubleshooting efforts across extrusion processes. The engineer partners closely with manufacturing and process teams to ensure tooling designs are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with production needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design tooling for new extrusion components, ensuring functionality, manufacturability, and performance.
• Modify and improve existing tooling designs to support sustained manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with process engineers and production teams to troubleshoot tooling‑related issues on extrusion lines.
• Create and maintain detailed Computer‑Aided Design (CAD) models and drawings.
• Apply working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GDT) to ensure accurate and functional design specifications.
• Support documentation efforts including technical reports, design documentation, and validation‑related materials.
• Participate in design reviews and provide input on manufacturability and process integration.
• Balance design work with hands‑on troubleshooting and production support.
• Continuously evaluate tooling performance and recommend design improvements.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Tooling designs are functional, reliable, and support consistent production outcomes.
• Existing tooling is improved to reduce downtime, defects, and inefficiencies.
• Strong collaboration exists between design and manufacturing teams, resulting in faster issue resolution.
• The engineer develops a strong understanding of extrusion processes and production requirements.
• Design work is completed accurately and efficiently, with high attention to detail.
• The engineer takes ownership of tooling‑related projects and drives them to completion.

Position Requirements

This Position Requires the Following Skills and Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.
• More than five years of experience in mechanical or tooling design within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in SolidWorks with the ability to build complex parts and assemblies.
• Apply working knowledge of GDT.
• Demonstrate strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot design and production challenges.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with cross‑functional teams.
• Operate independently while collaborating effectively in a team environment.
• Maintain strong attention to detail in all design and documentation work.
• Show adaptability and willingness to learn new manufacturing processes, including extrusion.

Preferred

• Experience designing tooling for extrusion processes.
• Background in sustaining engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Technical writing proficiency, including Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, Performance Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) documentation, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), validation protocols, and technical reports.
• Experience in a regulated industry such as medical devices or similar.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation range: $85,000 - $120,000 / year (California).
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Training and mentorship opportunities.
• On‑campus wellness activities.
• Education reimbursement program.
• 401(k) program with discretionary employer match.
• Generous vacation accrual and paid holiday schedule.

Please note that the compensation range may be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, experience. The compensation range may be adjusted in the future, and special discretionary bonus or incentive compensation plans may apply.

Our total reward package reflects our commitment to team member growth and well‑being, as we invest in your development and offer a range of benefits designed to enhance your career and life.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Applied Medical is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), or sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws in the locations where Applied Medical operates.