Tooling Project Manager - Aerospace

GROUPE ADF; Kinston (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Groupe ADF, via its ADF US LLC based in Kinston, NC, is seeking a Tooling Project Manager to drive strategic aeronautical tooling projects for a key aerospace client.

You will lead cross-functional teams, manage scope, planning and resources, and ensure delivery from design through acceptance in a highly technical environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Minimum 3 years experience in an industrial mechanical environment.
• Experience with aeronautical tooling is a strong plus.
• Strong project management and planning capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on aeronautical tooling projects, from design review to qualification and acceptance.
• Analyze technical requirements and translate them into robust tooling solutions.
• Contribute to the preparation, submission, and negotiation of technical tenders.
• Prepare and launch projects, defining scope, planning, resources, and organization.
• Lead project execution from start to finish, ensuring alignment with client expectations.
• Ensure tooling meets mechanical, dimensional and functional requirements.
• Coordinate internal teams and external stakeholders (clients, subcontractors, suppliers).
• Manage project lifecycle from start to finish (including delivery and closure).
• Monitor and control project performance; manage resources.
• Oversee subcontractors and ensure compliance with technical and contractual requirements.
• Provide technical support and monitoring for subcontractors and/or suppliers.
• Support the definition and validation of acceptance procedures and technical documentation.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality standards (QHSE).
• Contribute to a positive and professional company image.

Skills

Project management

Planning

Coordination

Mechanical engineering

Stakeholder management

Hands-on mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Aeronautical tooling experience

Job description

Power up! Shape the future

At Groupe ADF, we want to see you grow.

Groupe ADF is a French group with an international reach and a human-scale approach.

With 5,100 employees across 4 continents, we are a key player supporting industrial performance.

We offer engineering, production, and maintenance solutions across five areas of expertise: mobility, energy, materials, technology, and health & well‑being.

As part of our subsidiary ADF US LLC based in Kinston, NC, you will take on a central role as Tooling Project Manager, driving strategic aeronautical tooling projects for one of our key aerospace clients in a dynamic and highly technical environment.

What we offer?

Reporting To Operations Manager, Your Main Responsibilities Will Include

• Provide technical leadership on aeronautical tooling projects, from design review to qualification and acceptance
• Analyze technical requirements and specifications, and translate them into robust tooling solutions
• Contribute to the preparation, submission, and negotiation of technical tenders
• Prepare and launch projects, defining scope, planning, resources, and organization
• Lead project execution from start to finish, ensuring alignment with client expectations
• Ensuring tooling meets mechanical, dimensional and functional requirements
• Coordinate internal teams and external stakeholders (clients, subcontractors, suppliers)
• Manage project lifecycle from start to finish (including delivery and closure)
• Monitor and control project performance + Manage resources
• Oversee subcontractors and ensure compliance with technical and contractual requirements
• Provide technical support and monitoring for subcontractors and/or suppliers
• Supporting the definition and validation of acceptance procedures and technical documentation
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality standards (QHSE)
• Contributing to a positive and professional company image

Your Profile

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field
• Minimum 3 years experience in an industrial mechanical environment
• Experience with aeronautical tooling is a strong plus
• Comfortable working in project mode (sensitive to steering / planning / coordination)
• Hands‑on, field‑oriented mindset
• Experience in project / technical management (planning, dashboards, position as functional leader of a team, mastery of quality/cost/deadline concepts)
• Proven experience managing technical projects from A to Z

Be Able To

• Ability to anticipate technical issues and drive effective engineering solutions
• Analyze technical needs and participate in the search for innovative tooling design ideas
• Build strong client relationships and manage contractual aspects (including technical aspects)
• Manage budgets and cost estimations
• Allocate human and material resources efficiently
• Participate in the management of calls for tender in the pre‑sales phase, with a technical lens

As part of its diversity policy, Groupe ADF considers all applications, including those from people with disabilities.