Principal Tooling Engineer (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-05-20

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CA-CARLSBAD-582 ~ 2752 Loker Ave W ~ LOKER

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

Pratt & Whitney is working to once again transform the future of flight—designing, building and servicing engines unlike any the world has ever seen. And because transformation begins from within, we’re seeking the people to drive it. So, calling all curious. 

Come ready to explore and you’ll find a place where your talent takes flight—beyond the borders of title, a country or your comfort zone. Bring your passion and commitment and we’ll welcome you into a tight-knit team that takes our mission personally. Channel your drive to make a difference into shaping an organization and an industry that’s evolving fast to the future.

At Pratt & Whitney, the difference you make is on display every day. Just look up. Are you ready to go beyond?

Pratt & Whitney is seeking a highly motivated individual to support the manufacturing maturation of Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) turbine components. CMCs are an enabling material that increases the temperature capability of jet engine components. Through successful development and application of these materials, P&W will deliver engines that are more fuel efficient, lighter weight and more durable for commercial and military applications.

What You Will Do:
As a Principal Tooling Engineer, you will serve as a key technical leader, collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to design, develop, and optimize advanced tools and fixtures that enhance manufacturing and assembly processes. In this role, you will leverage your extensive expertise to lead complex projects, drive innovation in tooling solutions, and mentor junior engineers to foster technical growth within the team. This position is ideal for experienced professionals seeking to make a strategic impact in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while contributing to the development of cutting-edge technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design tooling for all processes utilized to manufacture CMCs.

• Establish and follow best design practices for materials, dimensions, tolerances, work holding and all aspects of tooling for prototyping, low volume production and high volume production of CMC components.

• Work closely with manufacturing and engineering integrated teams to design solutions that support process development.

• Play an active role in the Integrated Product Team process for CMC turbine components.

• Provide focused & effective leadership in eliminating EH&S/Ergonomics/Human Factors risks and addressing quality issues as processes transition into production.

• Support implementation of automation to improve quality and minimize process cost.

• Identify & implement shop floor process optimization, control methods, and work instructions (including specifications, engineering changes, QAD/process control, and tooling definition/requirements).

• Support comprehensive data collection and analysis as it relates to tooling.

• Establish metrics for the tooling effectiveness, cost and durability. Monitor outcomes to identify and implement improvement opportunities.

• Support advancement of CVI Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) and support hardware production for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) demonstration.

• Conduct root cause investigations as required and implement corrective actions.

• Training of engineers and technicians.

• Monitor and improve OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) through implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) practices.

• Identify, investigate and implement new technology to address business goals.

• Support a 24/7 operation as required.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

• 8+ years of Engineering experience, or 5+ years with an advanced degree

• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., CATIA, NX, SolidWorks).

• In-depth knowledge of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) principles, including the ability to interpret and apply complex tolerancing schemes to ensure precision and functionality in designs.

• Extensive experience with manufacturing processes and ass