Tooling Engineer
Company: Allfast Fastening Systems LLC
Primary Location: 15200 Don Julian Road, City of Industry, CA 91745 USA
Workplace Type: On-site
Employment Type: Salaried | Full-Time
Function: Engineering
Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Summary:
PennAero is hiring a Tooling Engineer at our Allfast Fastening Systems location in City of Industry, CA. Allfast Fastening Systems is a leading global manufacturer of solid and blind rivets, blind bolts, temporary fasteners, and installation tools for the aerospace industry. Our fasteners are crucial for the structural integrity of both commercial airliners and military jets. As a key supplier to major aerospace manufacturers, Allfast’s products support the commercial, military, and general aviation platforms in production and in service.
About PennAero:
PennAero is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered fasteners and specialized components for critical aerospace, defense, space, and advanced energy applications. We partner with customers to solve their most complex challenges, bringing technical depth and disciplined, agile execution when it matters most. Experience guides our growth - strengthening capabilities and expanding our global platform as markets evolve. To learn more about PennAero's capabilities and commitment to aerospace excellence, visit https://pennaero.com
Overview
The Tooling Engineer is responsible for the design, development and continuous improvement of tooling used in the manufacture of aerospace fasteners, with a focus on cold heading of pins and sleeves. Working closely with Production, Quality and Manufacturing Engineering, this role ensures tooling is designed to meet part specifications and tolerances, extends tool life, and reduces machine downtime and cost per part.
Key Responsibilities
Tool Design & Development Design and detail heading tooling (dies, punches, cutoff tooling, transfer fingers and related components) using CAD software, producing drawings with full GD&T. Develop tooling and forming progressions for new part numbers and engineering changes, supporting new product introduction from quote through first article inspection (FAI). Select tool materials (e.g., carbide grades, tool steels), heat treatments and coatings based on part material, forming loads and wear requirements. Work with internal toolrooms and outside tooling vendors to fabricate, inspect and qualify new and custom tooling to drawing. Process Engineering & Continuous Improvement Analyze tool wear, breakage and failure modes, then lead root-cause analysis and corrective action to extend tool life and reduce scrap. Run tool life studies and trials, using data to drive design changes, standardize tooling, and lower tooling cost per part. Partner with Production to optimize machine setups, reduce changeover times, and increase pin and sleeve heading throughput. Support Lean, 5S and continuous improvement initiatives within the heading department. Quality & Compliance Work with Quality to make sure all manufactured and purchased tooling meets dimensional and tolerance requirements. Support nonconformance investigations, MRB and corrective actions related to tooling. Make sure tooling documentation and processes comply with AS9100 and customer requirements. Tooling Systems & Documentation Lead the implementation and use of a tool management system to track tool life, usage and inventory, integrated with ERP/MRP where applicable. Maintain tooling drawings, revision control, tool lists and setup documentation for all heading part numbers. Write standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tool setup, handling, inspection and maintenance. Give technical direction and training to Tool Technicians and setup personnel. Department Support Help with tooling budgets, capital equipment recommendations and department goals. Act as a technical point of contact for tooling between Production, Quality and Engineering. This role is required to be onsite 5 days a week at our City of Industry, CA facility.
Qualifications
Qualifications & Skills Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related field. 3+ years of tooling or manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in cold heading, forging or fastener manufacturing. Strong understanding of cold heading and forming processes, tool design, material flow, wear mechanisms and metallurgy, including titanium, aluminum, steel and nickel alloys. Proficiency in CAD (e.g., SolidWorks or AutoCAD) and the ability to produce and interpret complex drawings using GD&T. Experience selecting tool materials, heat treatments and coatings. Hands-on experience with root-cause analysis methods (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone). Familiarity with tool management systems and ERP/MRP systems. Working knowledge of AS9100 quality requirements; aerospace experience strongly preferred. Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with machine operators, technicians, inspectors and engineers.
Compensation
In compliance with all states and cities requiring transparency of pay, the expected pay range for this position is $90,000 - $130,000. Compensation can vary depending on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, experience, competencies, and geographic location. Some roles may qualify for extra incentives like equity, commissions, or other variable performance-related bonuses. Further details will be provided by our recruiting team during the interview process.
Benefits
Benefit offerings include Medical Insurance and Prescription Drugs, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability Insurance (for eligible employees), Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), Paid Time Off (may include vacation and sick time), Retirement Program, and Other Voluntary Benefits.
