Manager, Tooling Engineering

Hadrian Automation • Torrance, CA

2d • $225,000 - $280,000

About The Position

As Manager, Tooling Engineering, you will build and lead the team responsible for the design, development, and implementation of precision tooling systems that support efficient, high-quality, large-scale manufacturing. You will set technical direction for tooling solutions across large parts and assemblies, with a focus on performance, reliability, and scalability, while growing and developing the engineers who deliver that work. You will own both the strategic roadmap for tooling and the outcomes of your team, balancing hands-on technical leadership with the people management, prioritization, and cross-functional coordination required to stand up new production capabilities at pace.

Requirements

• Experience leading or managing engineers, or a track record as a senior technical lead ready to take on a formal people leadership role.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and how tooling supports quality and production efficiency.
• Deep experience designing and delivering tooling systems for complex or large-scale parts and assemblies, such as machining or welding.
• Ability to set direction across both prototyping and continuous improvement efforts while managing multiple concurrent programs.
• Working proficiency in FEA and static analysis to validate tooling under real-world conditions, and fluency in 3D modeling and simulation tools (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or ANSYS) sufficient to guide and review the team's work.
• Knowledge of material selection and fabrication techniques suitable for high-load or high-temperature environments.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Physics, or a related STEM field.
• Demonstrated success building or scaling an engineering team in a fast-paced manufacturing or hardware environment.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence across disciplines.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, multidisciplinary environments with evolving priorities.
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams including design, quality, and automation.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop a team of tooling engineers, including hiring, mentorship, performance management, and career growth.
• Set the technical strategy and roadmap for structural and mechanical tooling that supports large components and assemblies.
• Own delivery and quality of tooling programs across the production lifecycle, from concept through design, build, validation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with engineering leadership, manufacturing, quality, automation, and program teams to align tooling priorities with production goals and new capability launches.
• Manage vendor and supplier relationships to build, source, and implement tooling systems on schedule and on budget.
• Establish standards, design reviews, and best practices for analysis, documentation, and validation across the team.
• Provide technical guidance and decision-making support on high-load, high-temperature, and other demanding tooling challenges.
• Serve as the tooling point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including on new business opportunities.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
• 401k
• Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.
• Flexible vacation policy
• Equity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree