Senior Tooling Design Engineer, Airframe Manufacturing

ABOUT US: Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures. WHO WE ARE: We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy. WHO YOU ARE: You're an engineer with a strong mechanical design background and experience developing tooling systems for large and complex assemblies. You are looking for an opportunity to deploy your skills to tackle difficult manufacturing challenges and design assembly fixtures from the ground up. You thrive in a hands-on, interdisciplinary environment where you are responsible for the entire scope of the tooling project; from initial design through successful implementation. You’re able to collaborate seamlessly with manufacturing and design teams to develop elegant tooling systems that will help lay the foundation for our next-generation aircraft factory. WHAT YOU’LL DO: Own the tooling strategy for Astro Mechanica's airframe, defining the fixturing and jigging architecture that carries us from detail part through to a joined airframe Design and deliver large assembly fixtures for major airframe assembly, along with the drill jigs, trim and bond fixtures, layup tools, and shop aids that feed them Establish the locating and datum strategy across the build sequence, and own the tolerance stack-up and GD&T analysis that proves the airframe closes Help stand up our tooling function from scratch, including design standards, drawing practice, tool numbering, vendor base, and proof-out process Serve as the technical authority on tooling for composite and metallic airframe structure, guiding design teams on manufacturability, tool access, and assembly approach Carry tooling from purchase order through build, install, and certification, whether it is made in-house or bought outside, holding the budget, schedule, and vendor choice Run tool proof-out and first article builds alongside the technicians who will use them, and close out whatever the trial exposes Define the metrology approach for tool certification and recertification, and interpret laser tracker and CMM results Mentor early-career tool designers and technicians, and build out the team's design review practice Own the investigation when a tool is implicated in a defect, and drive the corrective action to closure Hold our tooling to the ergonomic, safety, quality, and documentation bar that aerospace work demands Plan the transition of tooling from prototype builds toward higher rate production, designing for reuse and scalability Seek out new tooling technologies and methods that improve build speed, accuracy, and repeatability WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: 7+ years of experience designing aircraft or aerospace tooling and assembly fixturing, including full lifecycle ownership through design, procurement, fabrication, proof-out, and production support Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent Demonstrated experience designing both large monolithic assembly fixtures for major airframe assembly and small detail tooling such as drill jigs, trim fixtures, bond fixtures, and shop aids Strong hands-on experience with composite assemblies, including cure tooling, bond fixtures, and the tooling implications of layup, cure, trim, drill, and bonded joint processes Practical experience with weldments and machined metallic