Tooling Engineer

Karman Industries•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$70,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Karman Industries is seeking a motivated Tooling Engineer to support the development of the next generation of electric heat pumps for industrial process heat electrification. The ideal candidate will contribute to the design, analysis, and fabrication of production and assembly tooling within the Thermal01 heat pump platform and future product lines — getting sCO₂ turbomachinery systems from drawing to skid. This role requires technical ownership spanning structural, fabrication, and assembly hardware. You will drive tooling design from concept through structural analysis, fabrication coordination, and on-floor commissioning — for everything from large weldment fixturing and precision alignment tooling to the lift, rigging, and transport equipment that moves a 120,000+ lb skid. We are a team that values first-principles thinking, hands-on problem solving, and close cross-functional collaboration to deliver cohesive, high-performance systems. You'll work at the pace of a company standing up its first production line, where the tool you design this month may be load-tested and in use on the shop floor the next.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Experience designing tooling, jigs, or fixtures for production, assembly, or test environments
Strong 3D CAD skills (NX preferred); proficiency in FEMAP/NX Nastran or ANSYS for structural analysis of tooling and lifting/rigging equipment — must-have
Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and structural sizing codes/standards for rigging equipment (e.g., ASME BTH-1, 49 CFR, ASCE 7)
Familiarity with common fabrication processes (welding, machining, assembly, inspection) and how they inform tooling design
Comfortable working hands-on during tool installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting alongside a fabrication/build team
Strong ownership mentality and effective cross-disciplinary/vendor communication in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or related field
Exposure to turbomachinery, heat exchangers, or high-temperature fluid systems
Experience with electromechanical tooling elements (motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings)
Basic proficiency in Python or MATLAB, and familiarity with instrumentation/testing of thermal or mechanical systems

Responsibilities

Own the design, development, and implementation of tooling, fixtures, and jigs for weldment fabrication, component alignment, and final skid assembly on Karman's sCO₂ turbomachinery systems
Design and structurally validate (FEMAP/NX Nastran or ANSYS) lift, rigging, and transport tooling — spreader bars, tow/pull systems, forklift and crane interfaces — for large hardware up to 120,000+ lbs
Partner with mechanical, turbomachinery, and manufacturing engineering to build DFM/DFA, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up feedback into hardware before release
Generate 3D models, drawings, and fabrication packages (NX/Teamcenter); source and manage external fabrication vendors on cost, schedule, and quality
Design tooling and equipment layouts that integrate cleanly with the production floor as it scales
Support hands-on tooling installation, commissioning, and load testing/certification of safety-critical fixtures and lifting equipment, driving root cause and corrective action as issues arise
Be a visible presence on the shop floor and maintain a live tooling schedule against program milestones, flagging risk early