Supervisor, Tooling

About the role

The Tooling Supervisor provides technical leadership and direction for the development and lifecycle management of production tooling systems in the aerospace industry.

Responsibilities

• Leading a team of Tooling Engineers, Toolmakers, and Metrology Specialists to develop innovative and practical tooling solutions.
• Managing talent through coaching, mentoring, performance evaluations, and succession planning.
• Developing and improving tooling policies, procedures, and standards.
• Overseeing external design reviews, ensuring supplier compliance with standards.
• Managing tooling projects from concept to production release, supporting schedules.
• Evaluating and enhancing tooling designs for safety, quality, manufacturability, and cost efficiency.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
• Handling procurement, budgets, and supplier relationships for tooling programs.
• Maintaining tooling configuration control and traceability throughout its lifecycle.
• Leading root cause analysis and corrective actions for tooling-related issues.
• Key Performance Indicators: On-time project completion, budget adherence, tooling availability, and quality defect reduction.
• Decision-Making Responsibilities: Approving tooling requests, influencing design decisions for safety and usability, and determining internal vs. external fabrication based on capabilities.
• Working Conditions: Exposure to noise, heat, cold, dust, aircraft odors; physical activities such as lifting up to 50 lbs; adherence to safety regulations; and effective communication in a professional environment.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field preferred; equivalent experience accepted.
• Minimum of 5 years in aerospace tooling design or aircraft component fabrication, with leadership experience.
• Expertise in aerospace tooling design, fabrication, validation, and lifecycle management.
• Proficiency in CAD software (CATIA V5/V6), interpreting engineering drawings, and applying GD&T principles.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Experience with supplier management, metrology, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively across departments.