Tooling Engineering Manager

Austin, Texas Relocation Assistance Provided

Our client's mission is an end-to-end responsive space company on a mission to make space accessiblelaunching, landing, and operating anywhere, anytime. With small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles, we support the full lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. By leveraging advanced carbon composite structures, proprietary propulsion technologies, and shared components across our fleet, we accelerate innovation, enhance reliability, and deliver payloads more affordably.

The Job

Our client is looking for a Tool Engineering Manager. In this unique managerial role, you will lead a team of Tooling Engineers responsible for the design, fabrication, and integration of production jigs & fixtures in all of our production areas. This role will be responsible for managing a team of tooling engineers to ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of high-quality tooling solutions that support product development, manufacturing processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This role requires a leader who can make intuitive decisions based on situational influences as needed and who will drive innovation through technology, materials and processes.

Functions

• Lead and manage the tooling engineering team, including recruitment, performance management, and professional development.
• Oversee the design, development, procurement and commissioning of tooling for manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain) to ensure tooling solutions align with product and production requirements.
• Drive process improvement initiatives to reduce cycle time, cost, and improve tooling performance and quality.
• Manage tooling project timelines, budgets, and deliverables from concept through production readiness.
• Evaluate and implement new tooling technologies and materials to improve efficiency and capability.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards across all tooling operations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex tooling issues during development and production.
• Foster a teaming environment for knowledge sharing
• Promote a culture that the Tool Engineering team is a heavily relied upon and respected resource.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in tooling design and development, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD), and simulation tools.
• Leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience with GD&T and/or drawing interpretation.
• Experience developing tooling design, development & procurement estimates and ROIs.

Preferred Skills

• Previous Tool Engineering leadership experience.
• Experience championing process improvements.
• Experience with design for manufacturability and advanced material handling technologies.
• Experience incorporating ergonomics and human factors into design.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and team building skills.
• Knowledge of composites manufacturing, propulsion integration & launch vehicle integration processes.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with the company is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status