Tooling Engineer II

Kaman Human Resources • Middletown, CT

100d

About The Position

The Tooling Engineer II is a mid-level engineering role responsible for designing, developing, maintaining, and improving tooling and fixtures used in the manufacturing and assembly of legacy fuzing products. This position requires a balance of sustaining existing tooling, troubleshooting issues, and designing new tools to support production efficiency and quality. The Tooling Engineer II collaborates with cross-functional teams, including Manufacturing, Quality, and Test Engineering, to ensure tools meet production requirements and comply with industry standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in tooling design, manufacturing engineering, or a related role, preferably in an assembly or production environment.
• Demonstrated experience with SolidWorks for 3D modeling and 2D drawing creation.
• Familiarity with Product Document Management (PDM) software a plus.
• Proficiency in applying GD&T principles to tooling designs and drawings.
• Hands-on experience supporting manufacturing operations, preferably with established products or precision components.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks for designing tools and fixtures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for documentation and reporting.
• In-depth understanding of GD&T standards and their application in tooling design.
• Ability to learn local software packages and databases.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve tooling-related issues.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a manufacturing environment for fuzing products, aerospace, or defense industries.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, or other fabrication processes.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop tooling and fixtures using SolidWorks, ensuring compatibility with legacy fuzing product manufacturing processes.
• Create detailed 2D and 3D drawings, incorporating GD&T principles to ensure precision and manufacturability.
• Develop new tooling solutions to address production challenges, improve efficiency, or support new product introductions as needed.
• Provide estimates for new tooling designs or modifications to existing tooling.
• Reverse engineer existing tooling where a drawing might not exist or is a hand drawn 2D drawing.
• Populate our tooling preventative maintenance database with existing tooling and determine the maintenance criteria for each tool.
• Execute the tool maintenance as defined in the database and record results.
• Maintain and troubleshoot existing tooling to ensure operational reliability and minimize downtime.
• Analyze tooling performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance durability, precision, and production efficiency.
• Modify or repair tools and fixtures to accommodate design changes or resolve manufacturing issues.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, and Test Engineering teams to ensure tooling meets production and quality requirements.
• Provide technical support, assisting with tooling setup, operator training, and issue resolution.
• Participate in design reviews, providing input on tooling feasibility and manufacturability.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation, including tooling designs, specifications, and work instructions, using Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ensure all tooling designs comply with GD&T standards and industry regulations.
• Support compliance with safety, quality, and security protocols, including maintaining eligibility for a Secret security clearance.
• Manage small to medium tooling projects, including scoping, scheduling, and coordinating with vendors or internal machine shops for tool fabrication.
• Track project progress and report updates to management, ensuring timely delivery within budget constraints.
• Identify opportunities to optimize tooling processes, reduce costs, and improve production throughput.
• Stay current with industry trends, materials, and technologies to recommend innovative tooling solutions.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree