
Tooling Engineer
Hermeus · Los Angeles, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Hermeus (aerospace & defense) in Los Angeles, CA. A Tooling Build Engineer on the Manufacturing team is responsible for the design, development, and validation of innovative tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment that enable the prototyping, integration, and testing of advanced structural assemblies.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, GD&T, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Machining, Welding, Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 277 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $109k–$153k, from 101 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 59%
- New product launch 54%
- Root cause 45%
- Automation 35%
- ✓ CATIA / NX 34%
- ✓ Machining 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 Hermeus
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 on the team. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Michael → (free) - 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: Hermeus in Los Angeles
3 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found on the manufacturing team.
- Senior Build Reliability Engineer · Reliability · Senior
- Components Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- Structures Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
Full description from HermeusAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About The Role
A Tooling Build Engineer on the Manufacturing team is responsible for the design, development, and validation of innovative tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment that enable the prototyping, integration, and testing of advanced structural assemblies. This role emphasizes creativity, rapid iteration, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to support early-stage research and development.
Responsibilities
- ◆Own the design, fabrication, and implementation of advanced tooling, fixtures, and integration aids to support R&D, prototype builds, and test campaigns.
- ◆Partner with structures, manufacturing, and test teams to define tooling requirements, integration flow, and process interfaces.
- ◆Collaborate across engineering disciplines and external vendors to deliver rapid, high-precision prototype tooling solutions.
- ◆Leverage advanced materials and manufacturing methods, including additive and composite fabrication, to enhance performance and efficiency.
- ◆Perform design validations, mechanical checks, and hands-on trials to qualify tooling for development and production use.
- ◆Drive continuous improvement by developing and implementing tooling upgrades that reduce build time, improve accuracy, and streamline operations.
- ◆Maintain documentation, configuration control, and safety standards across all tooling systems.
- ◆Coordinate schedule, priorities, and vendor relationships to ensure tooling deliverables align with critical R&D and integration milestones.
- ◆Act as a key interface between engineering and build teams to resolve integration challenges and sustain build velocity.
Requirements
- ✓Strong engineering first principles.
- ✓Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing, or related engineering field.
- ✓Hands-on experience with physical hardware (internships, labs, project teams all count).
- ✓Proven ability to design, build, break, and iterate quickly.
- ✓Comfort with CAD, test equipment, hand tools.
- ✓Familiarity with manufacturing processes (machining, welding, forming, etc.) and GD&T fundamentals.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- ✓Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication methods including machining, additive manufacturing, composites, and rapid prototyping.
- ✓Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) for tooling design and iteration.
- ✓Knowledge of GD&T and ability to interpret and apply engineering drawings to prototype development.
- ✓Familiarity with R&D environments and early-stage design-build-test cycles for high-performance aerospace systems.
- ✓Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to experiment, adapt, and iterate quickly in ambiguous development settings.
- ✓Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering, prototype build, and test teams.
- ✓Knowledge of lean prototyping and continuous improvement principles in low-volume, experimental environments.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.
