Principal Tooling Design Engineer (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-05-27

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CA-CARLSBAD-5940 ~ 5940 Darwin Ct ~ DARWIN

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

At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world. 

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power systems and has been revolutionizing modern flight for over 100 years. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years of Engineering experience, or 5+ years with an advanced degree.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as NX, CATIA, Creo, or 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.
• Demonstrated experience with manufacturing processes and assembly techniques.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience designing molds, machining fixtures, assembly fixtures, or other tooling used for composite or ceramic processing in the aerospace industry utilizing a range of materials including graphite, metal and polymers.
• At least 2 years of experience with NX solid modeling softwar