Tooling Technician

PDS Tech•Kinston, NC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

PDS Tech Commercial is partnering with a leader in the aviation industry to find an experienced Tooling Technician ready to put their precision, mechanical expertise, and problem-solving skills to work. In this hands-on role, you'll maintain, repair, calibrate, and improve the specialized tooling that supports advanced aerostructure production. From precision jigs and molds to fixtures and lay-up tools, your work will directly contribute to the quality, accuracy, and reliability of aircraft manufacturing operations. As a Tooling Technician, you'll help ensure critical manufacturing tools and equipment remain accurate, reliable, and ready for production. You'll troubleshoot tooling issues, perform repairs and preventive maintenance, support root cause analysis, and collaborate with engineering, vendors, leadership, and other technical teams to develop effective solutions. If you enjoy working with your hands, solving complex mechanical problems, and seeing the direct impact of your craftsmanship, this is an opportunity to bring those skills into the aviation industry.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED or WorkKeys Assessment completion
3+ years of aerospace tooling or precision machining experience
Experience working with and interpreting GD&T blueprints
Experience with precision tooling, jigs, molds, or fixtures
Experience with laser trackers, overhead gantry cranes, and hydraulic systems
Basic proficiency with a variety of hand and power tools
Ability to read and work from blueprints, layouts, drawings, and technical instructions
Knowledge of workplace safety and quality requirements, including FOD and clean-as-you-go practices
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
Ability to clearly communicate complex technical issues
Effective interpersonal and collaboration skills
Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information
Ability to meet applicable U.S. person/ITAR requirements
Must be able to successfully complete required post-recruitment training, including: Health & Safety, General Aircraft Familiarization, Quality Training

Nice To Haves

Vocational or technical school training related to industrial machinery, tooling, machining, or equipment maintenance
Previous employer-provided training in the dismantling, moving, installation, and repair of industrial machinery and equipment
Strong experience repairing or fabricating aerospace tooling
Experience using computerized systems to enter, generate, and retrieve technical information
Working knowledge of SAP and Microsoft Excel
Experience supporting tooling reliability, root cause analysis, and corrective action initiatives

Responsibilities

Dismantle, move, assemble, install, and repair industrial machinery and equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, drawings, specifications, and verbal instructions.
Maintain, repair, and support the calibration of precision jigs, molds, fixtures, and tooling used in aerostructure manufacturing.
Rework and maintain tools made from a variety of materials.
Repair and build lay-up tools used in the production environment.
Dismantle machinery and equipment using hand tools such as hammers, wrenches, and crowbars.
Move machinery and equipment using hoists, dollies, rollers, trucks, and overhead gantry cranes, as appropriate.
Assemble and install equipment such as conveyors and tram rails using hand and power tools.
Construct foundations, align machinery, and perform scheduled inspections and maintenance.
Set up and operate machine tools and fabrication machinery to rework existing parts or manufacture new components.
Perform root cause analysis to support reliability and continuous improvement efforts.
Collaborate with vendors, engineering, team leaders, customers, other skilled trades, and management to troubleshoot equipment issues and develop corrective actions.
Perform routine minor machine and tooling maintenance, including changing filters, maintaining lubrication and coolant levels, and completing other basic preventive maintenance tasks.
Follow established safety, quality, FOD, clean-as-you-go, and OSHA practices throughout all work activities.
Accurately document work and retrieve technical information using applicable computer systems.