Tooling Design Engineer

About the role

ALTEN is seeking a Jigs & Tooling Engineer to support manufacturing operations at our Mobile, AL facility. This role is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of jigs, fixtures, and tooling used on the production floor. The engineer will work closely with Manufacturing, Design Engineering, Quality, and Tooling teams to ensure tooling solutions are robust, ergonomic, cost-effective, and aligned with quality and safety standards. Proficiency in CATIA is essential.

Responsibilities

• Tooling & Jig Design
  • Design and develop production jigs, fixtures, and tooling using CATIA in accordance with design standards
  • Translate product design requirements into manufacturable and reliable tooling solutions
  • Create 3D models, 2D drawings, and complete technical documentation for tooling release
  • Ensure tooling designs support dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and production rate objectives
• Manufacturing Support
  • Provide hands-on engineering support to the manufacturing floor during tooling installation, tryouts, and ramp-up
  • Troubleshoot tooling-related issues affecting safety, quality, delivery, or cost
  • Implement tooling modifications and improvements based on production feedback and performance data
  • Support measurement systems and tooling alignment to ensure product conformity
• Continuous Improvement
  • Analyze tooling performance and identify opportunities to improve ergonomics, cycle time, reliability, and maintainability
  • Participate in Lean / continuous improvement activities (Kaizen, problem-solving workshops, root cause analysis)
  • Support standardization and reuse of tooling solutions where applicable
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance teams
  • Interface with suppliers and internal tool shops for tooling fabrication, validation, and acceptance
  • Support tooling procurement activities including specifications, supplier technical reviews, and acceptance testing
• Compliance & Documentation
  • Ensure tooling designs comply with processes, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
  • Maintain accurate configuration control, BOMs, and engineering change documentation
  • Support audits, reviews, and continuous compliance with safety and quality standards

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in tooling, jig, or fixture design within a manufacturing environment
• Strong proficiency in CATIA (V5 and/or 3DEXPERIENCE)
• Experience supporting production or shop floor environments
• Solid understanding of GD&T, mechanical design principles, and manufacturing processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace manufacturing experience
• Knowledge of composite or metallic aircraft structures
• Experience with tooling validation, measurement systems, and first article inspections (FAI)
• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies

Key Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Clear communication and collaboration across disciplines
• Attention to detail with a quality-focused mindset
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and manage engineering changes