Tooling Engineer

Northwood; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood is seeking a Tooling Engineer to design, build, commission, and improve tooling and production equipment for our ground systems. You will work cross‑functionally with mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, test, and deployment teams to turn process needs into robust, repeatable tooling.

You will create CAD models, detailed drawings, BOMs, and maintenance plans, bring up automated production equipment, and drive continuous improvement to reduce cycle times while ensuring safety and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years designing, building, or supporting tooling or automation.
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals and manufacturability.
• Experience with CAD and drawing release workflows.
• Hands-on hardware experience in shop, lab, or field.
• Experience developing tools for operators and teams.
• Knowledge of electromechanical systems and motion control.
• Familiarity with PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and machine safety.
• Ability to translate ambiguous needs into working hardware.
• Strong communication across teams.
• High ownership and bias toward action in fast-paced hardware settings.
• Experience taking tooling from prototype to production release.

Responsibilities

• Own design and delivery of production tooling from concept through deployment.
• Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and operators to improve quality, speed, safety, and repeatability.
• Build quick prototypes and mature designs into robust, documented equipment.
• Bring up automated and semi‑automated production equipment with sensors, actuators, PLCs, HMIs, and safety features.
• Troubleshoot tooling and equipment issues across mechanical, control, and usability aspects.
• Create CAD models, drawings, BOMs, work instructions, commissioning plans, and maintenance docs.
• Work with internal teams and external vendors to fabricate and improve tooling and production equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement to reduce cycle time and increase first‑pass success.
• Establish practical tooling standards as production scales.

Skills

Mechanical design

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Ownership & action

Hardware prototyping

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

CAD software

Drawing release workflows

PLC programming

HMI development

Job description

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role

Northwood is looking for a Tooling Engineer to design, build, commission, and improve the tools and equipment that enable us to manufacture, assemble, test, deploy, and scale our ground systems.

This is a highly cross‑functional role. You will work with nearly every team at Northwood, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing, test, site operations, supply chain, and deployment. The tools you build will support antenna alignment, installation, robotic dispensing, lifting, assembly, precision positioning, field deployment, automated production equipment, and other systems that help Northwood move faster and build reliably at scale.

We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable designing hardware, working hands‑on in the shop, debugging equipment on the production floor, and collaborating with engineers and technicians to turn rough process needs into robust, repeatable tooling.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and delivery of production tooling from initial concept through deployment on the shop floor or in the field.
• Partner with engineers, technicians, and operators to understand the underlying process, not just the requested tool, and develop solutions that improve quality, speed, safety, and repeatability.
• Build quick prototypes when speed matters, then mature the design into robust, documented, maintainable equipment.
• Bring up automated and semi‑automated production equipment, including sensor integration, actuator selection, control panels, PLC logic, HMIs, and machine safety features.
• Troubleshoot tooling and equipment issues in real time, including mechanical failures, control logic problems, operator usability issues, tolerance stackups, and process variation.
• Create CAD models, detailed drawings, BOMs, work instructions, commissioning plans, and maintenance documentation.
• Work with internal teams and external vendors to fabricate, source, assemble, test, and improve custom tooling and production equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing and deployment processes by reducing cycle time, improving ergonomics, simplifying operations, and increasing first‑pass success.
• Establish practical tooling standards and best practices as Northwood scales from low‑rate builds to repeatable production and deployment.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronics, robotics, electrical engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of experience designing, building, or supporting tooling, fixtures, production equipment, manufacturing systems, or automation equipment.
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals, including structures, mechanisms, tolerances, material selection, manufacturability, and maintainability.
• Experience with CAD and drawing release workflows.
• Hands‑on experience building, assembling, debugging, and improving hardware in a shop, lab, production, or field environment.
• Experience developing tools or equipment used by operators, technicians, manufacturing teams, or field teams.
• Working knowledge of electromechanical systems, pneumatics, actuators, sensors, motors, or motion‑control hardware.
• Familiarity with automation and controls concepts, including PLCs, ladder logic, relays, HMIs, industrial sensors, and machine safety systems.
• Ability to take ambiguous process needs and turn them into working hardware quickly.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, test, operations, and deployment teams.
• High ownership, strong bias toward action, and comfort working in a fast‑paced hardware environment.
• Experience taking tooling from prototype through production release, including validation, documentation, operator training, and maintenance planning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing, commissioning, or maintaining automated or semi‑automated production equipment.
• Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, AutomationDirect, or similar systems.
• Experience writing, modifying, or troubleshooting ladder logic, structured text, HMI screens, or machine control sequences.
• Experience with robotic dispensing, adhesive dispensing, gantries, machine vision, precision alignment systems, or coordinated motion systems.
• Experience designing lifting, rigging, hoist, crane, cart, ergonomic handling, or field deployment equipment.
• Experience supporting aerospace, satellite, RF, robotics, automotive, industrial automation, or other high‑reliability hardware production.
• Familiarity with machine guarding, lockout/tagout, risk assessments, and equipment safety standards.
• Experience working directly with machinists, fabricators, technicians, operators, and external vendors.

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, Northwood Space reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Compensation

Compensation at Northwood Space is based on role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual base pay is determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary depending on job‑related skills, education, experience, and technical expertise. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Northwood. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long‑term incentives such as company stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10 or more paid holidays per year, retirement savings plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Additional Information

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.