Tooling Designer

About the role

The Tooling Designer plays a key role in designing production tools and equipment used in final assembly environments, including I/P carriers, lift assist tools, sub tables, conveyors, and other assembly tooling. The role focuses heavily on 3D design work in UGNX and Catia for automotive programs, particularly supporting Honda projects. The Tooling Designer develops mechanical designs, leads and coordinates internal and external design activities, and ensures that all tooling and equipment meet customer specifications, quality standards, and project objectives from concept through final customer acceptance.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical tooling and equipment for final assembly, including I/P carriers, lift assist tools, sub tables, conveyors, and other assembly tools.
• Spend the majority of time (over 90%) performing detailed 3D design work in UGNX, supported by 2D detailing as needed.
• Develop mechanical design concepts and complete engineering layouts to support project objectives and customer requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Controls Engineering, and Project Management to support projects from inception through final customer acceptance and sign-off.
• Coordinate all internal and external mechanical design activities to ensure alignment with project scope, timing, and budget.
• Review and release final engineering drawings to the manufacturing department, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and manufacturability.
• Lead, organize, and participate in design review meetings for both in-house and outsourced designs.
• Interpret engineering drawings and specifications to develop equipment installation instructions that comply with site installation requirements and customer standards.
• Ensure that equipment being started up and commissioned operates in accordance with approved customer specifications and performance expectations.
• Gather required project information from customers and suppliers to create detailed specifications for tooling and equipment.
• Develop equipment specifications for internal mechanical design and for builds performed by outside vendors.
• Ensure selected suppliers follow defined processes and meet project quality, delivery, and budget expectations.
• Document project information, decisions, and design changes related to mechanical design from customers and suppliers.
• Conduct proper handoffs (“line ups”) when transitioning projects to integration teams for build and commissioning.
• Prepare and complete project-related purchase requests for design work and submit them to purchasing.
• Provide project-specific direction to design suppliers and oversee their work to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Perform design and build buy-offs and conduct quality checks on tooling and equipment prior to final release.
• Review all mechanical engineering drawings prior to final release to ensure they meet customer buyoff requirements.
• Travel occasionally (less than 5%) to local tooling suppliers or customer sites for reviews, support, or inspections.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of experience designing tooling, equipment, or automation equipment.
• At least 3 years of tooling and automation design experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years of experience designing with UGNX.
• Minimum 3 years of experience designing with Catia.
• Strong proficiency in 3D design and 2D detailing for mechanical tooling and equipment.
• Experience designing tooling and equipment for final assembly operations.
• Previous experience working on Honda programs.
• Experience with tool design for automotive equipment and manufacturing tooling.
• Ability to design lift assist tools, sub tables, conveyors, and I/P carriers.
• Experience with automation design and tool build activities.
• Ability to interpret and create detailed engineering drawings and specifications.
• Strong coordination and communication skills to work with Manufacturing, Controls Engineering, Project Management, customers, and suppliers.
• Ability to lead and participate in design review meetings for internal and outsourced designs.
• Capability to ensure compliance with customer specifications and site installation requirements.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally (less than 5%) to local supplier and customer sites.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience working on Ford programs, particularly in general or final assembly environments.
• General Assembly experience in automotive manufacturing.
• Body Shop experience in an automotive environment.
• Experience working with automotive trim business or similar high-volume production tooling.
• Experience collaborating with external design suppliers and managing outsourced design work.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Experience conducting design and build buy-offs and performing quality checks on tooling.
• Familiarity with equipment installation requirements and commissioning processes.
• Comfort working in a growing design team where processes and structures are being developed and refined.
• Interest in contributing to the development of an in-house design capability that has historically been outsourced.

Work Environment

The role is based in a modern, brand-new facility within a growing design organization. The design group includes a team of approximately seven designers on this team (six direct and one contractor), with an additional design team of four to five designers supporting other customers. Work is primarily office-based, with more than 90% of the time spent at a computer performing 3D and 2D design work using UGNX and Catia. The team currently works five days per week in the office, with occasional work-from-home flexibility. The environment has a family-style culture where team members collaborate closely and support each other, and there is significant opportunity to contribute to and shape an expanding in-house design team that is transitioning from previously outsourced design work. Occasional local travel (less than 5%) to tooling suppliers or customer sites may be required.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $50.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.