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Manufacturing Engineer - Tooling

GKN Aerospace · El Cajon, CA

Level
Engineer
Team
Manufacturing
Degree
Required
Experience asked
5+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
12 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level manufacturing role at GKN Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in El Cajon, CA. Accountable for tool fabrication quotes, tooling input for new product quotes, tooling configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, and implementation.

They ask for
5+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Root cause, GD&T, AS9100, Machining, Tooling, SolidWorks
Openings
2 with this title at this site

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $112k–$168k.

Median of the low and high ends of 147 live postings that list pay, out of 388 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 387 other live manufacturing postings in California.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $110k–$157k, from 127 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Typical (5+ years)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Tooling 52%
  • New product launch 47%
  • ✓ Root cause 38%
  • Automation 35%
  • ✓ CATIA / NX 27%
  • ✓ Machining 27%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for AS9100, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Training program

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 El Cajon

4 other open roles at this site.

Full description from GKN AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer – Tooling will provide Manufacturing Engineering capability to operational and development Programs to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilizing engineering and problem solving skills. Accountable for delivering robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

Job

Responsibilities

  • ◆Accountable for tool fabrication quotes, tooling input for new product quotes, tooling configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, and implementation
  • ◆Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
  • ◆Responsible for the development of technical solutions to complex problems within GKN Aerospace, our customers and suppliers.
  • ◆Deliver technical support of manufacturing process development and integration for production.
  • ◆Utilize root cause analysis, preventative and corrective action to reduce/eliminate non-conformances.
  • ◆Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
  • ◆Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives.
  • ◆Responsible for the development of tooling solutions to complex problems through:
  • ◆The implementation of tooling, from original concept through to production. Design this tooling for high degree of process capability utilizing the GKN standard Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite to demonstrate as such.

Job

Qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, or lieu of degree 5+ years of tool design experience
  • ✓3+ Years of tool design experience in a Manufacturing environment, preferably in an aerospace environment
  • ✓1+ year of design experience using NX, Catia or Solidworks CAD/CAM software
  • ✓Must be a US Citizen or Green Card Holder due to program security clearance

requirements

and/or SSA requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

  • ✓GKN experience
  • ✓Aerospace industry experience
  • ✓Machining and assembly experience strongly preferred
  • ✓Ability to read blueprints
  • ✓Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
  • ✓Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000
  • ✓Increasingly able to provide Technical input at all levels of work
  • ✓Identifies and anticipates technical problems and offers solutions
  • ✓Drives to complete the job on time and continually searches for better ways of doing things
  • ✓Understands situations by analyzing them logically and uses information in a systematic way identifying appropriate course of action for resolution.
  • ✓Ability to apply complex and non-routine analysis
  • ✓Competent member of the technical community with a good understanding of other disciplines
  • ✓Acts without supervision in own area whilst able to supervise others.
  • ✓Applies knowledge and skills to a range of activities
  • ✓Understands the formal and informal structure of the business
  • ✓Provides support to the technical community and show commercial awareness at local level

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 the future of aerospace innovation and technology. ​

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Show full description ↓

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.

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