Senior Mechanical Engineer-Tooling Expert

Posted Yesterday
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Mukilteo, WA, USA
In-Office
123K-145K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace
The Role
Design, develop, prototype, and test precision tooling, jigs, fixtures, and automated assembly systems for aerospace robotic platforms. Lead tooling projects, perform tolerance and structural analysis, integrate electromechanical components, troubleshoot field issues, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability and reliable production deployment.
Summary Generated by Built In

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at [email protected]

  • Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
  • Notice: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination  (English)
  • Aviso: Transparencia en el Pago No Discriminación (Spanish)

Job Description:

Job Summary:  The Mechanical Engineer 3 is a senior‑level contributor responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing complex mechanical systems and tooling for advanced robotic platforms.

This role requires deep expertise in the design and implementation of advanced jigs, fixtures, and automated or semi-automated tooling systems for aerospace applications. The successful candidate will bring a strong background in precision tooling design, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and production-scale deployment, ensuring robust, repeatable assembly processes. Experience leading tooling development efforts, collaborating with manufacturing, quality, and integration teams, and driving continuous improvement in tooling performance, cost, and reliability is highly desired.

How we care for you:

  • Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).
  • Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.
  • Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages. 
  • Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programs and both national and international mobility.
  • Salary range: $123,000-$145,000/year based on candidate profile

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Design, Prototype, and Test
    • Formulate innovative conceptual designs and evolve them into final designs to meet customer requirements.
    • Propose new and innovative solutions for complex mechanical systems.
    • Fabricate, modify, and test robotic and automated assembly prototypes.
    • Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on automated assembly prototypes.
    • Work with Software, Electrical, System Engineers and Project Management to ensure a successful product lifecycle.
    • Performs hands-on work when needed.
  • Troubleshoot
    • Plan or coordinate activities to investigate and resolve customers' reports of technical problems with automated tooling.
    • Review performance reports and documentation from customers and field engineers and inspect malfunctioning or damaged products to determine the problem.
    • Contribute to technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
  • Project Manage and Document
    • Develops, plans, and executes a project and leads one or more operators, technicians, and/or associate engineers on the execution of design tasks, prototype builds, and test setups. Designs high-quality experiments with fast iteration speed. Is responsible for the execution of an entire project task. Leads project tasks and is responsible with minimal guidance for technical leadership within those project tasks. Owns the quality of execution, iteration speed, quality of the decision-making, and quality of the results (as appropriate) of project tasks.
    • Exercises discretion and independent judgment in the application of specialized knowledge on work that is predominantly intellectual and for which the output produced or the result accomplished cannot be standardized in relation to a given period of time.
    • Guides and trains more junior members of the team.

Qualified Experience and Training: 

Education:

Required

  • Combination of technical degree and years of experience. Mechanical Engineering, Tooling Design, related field.

Experience:

Required

  • Over 8 years of experience in tooling/design engineering
  • Able to execute day-to-day work without instruction or guidance. Begins to mentor junior engineers, occasionally approaching senior engineers for technical guidance and advice on new assignments.
  • Experience working with power tools, hand tools, and machine shop equipment is a must.
  • Hands-on experience working with, electric motors, gears, seals, springs, and fasteners is a must.
  • Experience designing mechanisms is a must.
  • Three or more years of experience with mechanical design tools such as SolidWorks, CATIA, etc. is required.
  • Experience with Finite Element Analysis and modeling tools is desired.
  • Experience with pneumatics, linear guides, ball screws, and position sensors is a must.
  • Experience working with robots is a plus.
  • Experience designing and building jigs and automated tooling
  • Experience with designing large weldment structures

Travel Required:

  •      10% Domestic and International

Citizenship: US person

Qualified Skills: 

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

Required

  • Advanced 3D CAD proficiency (CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) including complex assemblies
  • Mechanical system design for robotics: mechanisms, linkages, actuators, motion systems
  • Tolerance analysis (GD&T, stack‑ups, precision fits)
  • Structural and thermal analysis (FEA, hand calculations, material selection)
  • Design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA)
  • Experience with electromechanical integration (motors, sensors, wiring, PCBs)
  • Knowledge of robotics‑specific components (gears, bearings, transmissions, linear motion systems)
  • Prototyping and hands‑on fabrication (machining, 3D printing, rapid iteration)
  • Understanding of control systems and kinematics (not necessarily coding, but system‑level awareness)
  • Knowledge of designing jigs and automated tooling

Communication Skills:

Required:

  • Clear Technical Communication
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Requirements and Specification communication
  • Constructive Feedback
  • Problem Solving and Professional communication

Technical Systems Proficiency:

Required:

  • Solidworks
  • CATIA
  • Jira

Physical Requirements:

  • Onsite or remote:  Hybrid
  • Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily
  • Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily
  • Speaking:  able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily
  • Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily
  • Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.Daily
  • Lifting:  able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily
  • Pushing / Pulling:  able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Daily
  • Sitting:  able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer. Daily
  • Squatting / Kneeling:  able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Daily
  • Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on production floor. Daily
  • Travel:  able to travel independently and at short notice. 10%
  • Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents):  able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily
  • Personal Protective Equipment required:  Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Robotics LLC

Employment Type:

Permanent

Experience Level:

Professional

Remote Type:

On-site

Job Family:

Mechanics & Mechatronics

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Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.
Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected].

Skills Required

  • Combination of technical degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field and years of experience
  • Over 8 years of experience in tooling/design engineering
  • Advanced 3D CAD proficiency (CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) with complex assemblies
  • Three or more years of experience with mechanical design tools such as SolidWorks or CATIA
  • Experience with GD&T, tolerance analysis and precision fits (stack-ups)
  • Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) experience
  • Experience designing and building jigs, fixtures, and automated tooling for production-scale deployment
  • Hands-on prototyping and fabrication experience (machining, 3D printing, rapid iteration) and experience with power tools and machine shop equipment
  • Hands-on experience with electromechanical components: electric motors, gears, seals, springs, fasteners
  • Experience with pneumatics, linear guides, ball screws, and position sensors
  • Experience designing large weldment structures
  • Experience executing work independently and mentoring junior engineers
  • Experience with Finite Element Analysis and modeling tools
  • Experience working with robots
  • Familiarity with Jira or similar project tracking tools
  • US person / current work authorization in the United States

Airbus Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Airbus and has not been reviewed or approved by Airbus.

  • Healthcare Strength Healthcare coverage is positioned as comprehensive in several locations, including medical, dental, and vision options available from day one in the U.S. Access to life insurance, disability coverage, and employee assistance/wellbeing support adds breadth to the health offering.
  • Retirement Support Retirement support is framed as a meaningful part of the package through plans such as a 401(k) with company matching in the U.S. These programs strengthen long-term financial security beyond base wages.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth Time-off provisions are described as generous in some settings, including vacation availability from day one and extended holiday coverage. Flexible working arrangements and hybrid options further increase the perceived value of time-related benefits.

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The Company
HQ: Toulouse
52,655 Employees
Year Founded: 2014

What We Do

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2020, it generated revenues of €49.9 billion and employed a workforce of around 130,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Airbus is an international pioneer in the aerospace industry and a leader in designing, manufacturing and delivering aerospace products, services and solutions to customers on a global scale. We believe that it’s not just what we make, but how we make it that counts; promoting responsible, sustainable and inclusive business practices and acting with integrity. Our people work with passion and determination to make the world a more connected, safer and smarter place, on the ground, in the sky and in space.

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