Director Tool Engineering 1

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Palmdale, CA +1 · Material/Process

Director of Tool Engineering at Northrop Grumman, responsible for leading teams in the design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of automation tooling for aerospace manufacturing. Requires strong leadership, project management, and experience with aerospace tooling and assembly lines.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead and manage the tooling engineering and technical teams, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback.
  2. Collaborate with Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities, Tooling Quality, and Production teams to ensure seamless integration of tooling packages.
  3. As a CAM, develop and manage various tooling budgets (direct/nonrecurring, sustaining, indirect, capital) to ensure total cost management, budget performance and effective resource allocation.
  4. Oversee the design/development, fabrication, and installation of tooling fixtures, automation, and equipment required for manufacturing operations.
  5. Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to address tooling/automation issues and improve quality.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree and 10 years’ experience in Tooling/Tool Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline or a Master’s degree and 8+ years’ experience in Tooling/Tool Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
  • 4+ years of management or leadership experience
  • Experience and understanding of tooling processes, including machining, fabrications, assembly, and testing
  • active DoD Secret clearance

Nice to have

  • STEM Degree or BS of Science
  • Previous tooling and automation experience as it relates to aerospace tooling
  • Managing multiple suppliers across multiple projects
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt)
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage cross-functional teams

What the JD emphasized

  • strong background in aerospace and automation tooling specific to operations, fabrication, installation, metrology and managing in-house and outside suppliers/supplier management
  • proven track record of successful leadership and a deep understanding of tooling and automation as it relates to assembly lines
  • Directing the work of tooling managers representing technical, manufacturing and administrative disciplines who are assigned to multiple sites, resolving constraints between functions, and setting /driving organizational strategy
  • Must have an active DoD Secret clearance