Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Tooling
GKN Aerospace · Tallassee, AL
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 17 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at GKN Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Tallassee, AL. Schedule the transition of tools from design through change control to verify tooling functionality and suitability, tool string coordination, production part quality and tool delivery schedule.
- They ask for
- 7+ years
- Tools it names
- SPC, CNC, Machining, Tooling, CATIA / NX
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Alabama: typical posted base $134k–$165k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 45 manufacturing engineer openings in Alabama, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Alabama plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 44 other live manufacturing postings in Alabama.
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 3+)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 62%
- Root cause 60%
- FMEA 42%
- Welding 42%
- ✓ Machining 40%
- Lean 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at GKN Aerospace
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: GKN Aerospace in Tallassee
3 other open roles at this site.
- Configuration Control Manufacturing Engineer · Controls
- Director of Quality, Site · Quality · Director+
- Sr. Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing · Senior
Full description from GKN AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
The Tooling Engineer will provide direct support of the manufacturing process through technical support of the tooling required for the manufacture and assembly of composite Aircraft parts. The Tooling Engineer will design, develop and implement industrial machinery and equipment, tools, dies gauges, jigs, fixtures, prototype model production and machine attachments required for production or experimental use. They will evaluate Tooling factors such as accessibility, economy, mobility, and performance requirements. They will use a Cad system (CATIA V5) to design tools as required and generate detail Statements of Work for the quotation and fabrication of tooling both internal and external. They will provide tool cost estimates to support configuration changes, provide tooling used in computer numerical control (CNC) machining center applications, provide schedule updates for tool fabrication coordination, implementation both internally and externally. They will manage the external tool fabrications at Tooling Suppliers for technical configuration.
Job
Responsibilities
- ◆Schedule the transition of tools from design through change control to verify tooling functionality and suitability, tool string coordination, production part quality and tool delivery schedule.
- ◆Provide leadership to a project team as assigned.
- ◆As assigned, be accountable for the following tasks: Tool design and fabrication Statements of Work (SOW), tool fabrication and quotes.
- ◆Identifies tool engineering problems and initiate corrective action to ensure tools are in line with quality standards and production requirements.
- ◆Controls the transition of new tools from design through change control to verify correctness of tools and production parts.
- ◆Provides technical information and support to Company suppliers and customers.
- ◆Supports the vision and mission for the Company; support strategies and processes designed to meet and exceed the expectations of customers and management
- ◆Supports the company's commitment to maintaining a safe workplace and protecting the environment by adhering to Company policy and various government regulations.
- ◆Complies with the GKN Compliance and Ethics Policy on Contracting with the United States Government in all areas of responsibility involving direct and indirect contracting with the United States Government.
- ◆Performs other duties and
responsibilities
as needed or assigned.
Job
Qualifications
- ✓High School Diploma / GED
- ✓7 years of work experience in a composite/metal aerospace tool fabrication environment
- ✓2 years of Tool Design experience using CATIA V5.
- ✓Must be a U.S. Person per ITAR regulations to comply with export compliance
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Preferred Qualification
- +Knowledge or training in the following areas required: Must demonstrate in-depth working knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of machine shop principles, concepts, regulations and practices; and leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines and milestones.
- +Knowledge of tool shop operations, equipment, tooling design, including CAD/CAM (CATIA V5)
- +Manufacturing standards, process control techniques, developmental test equipment including SPC, gauging and instrumentation.
- +Ability to Estimate Tool Fabrication for cost and lead-time
- +Excellent verbal and written communication – able to effectively create working relationships with internal and external customer.
- +Must demonstrate ability to manage projects, create, executing and reporting project work plans.
- +Professional fluency with personal computer hardware and software applications (Word, Excel, etc.
- +Statement of Work (SOW) generation using standard Microsoft software packages.
- +Ability to Prepare Quotations for Tool Fabrication.
- +Strong leadership and coaching/training skills.
- +Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
- +Demonstrated decision-making capability.
- +Team player with good interpersonal skills; ability to interact effectively with all departments within the Company
We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.
We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.
We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape