About the Opportunity: We're looking for a skilled and driven Manufacturing Tooling Engineer to join our team at a fast-paced CNC machine shop serving aerospace industries. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you'll play a key role in designing and improving manufacturing and inspection fixtures and gauges that support new product development and efficient production. This role offers a mix of hands-on engineering work, cross-functional collaboration, and process ownership - perfect for someone who thrives on precision, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
Location: Orillia, Ontario
This is an Onsite position.
Responsibilities: - 3D Tooling Design: Design complex jigs, machining fixtures (mill, lathe, EDM, grinding, and laser etc.), welding fixtures, and assembly tooling for aerospace components using CAD software (Siemens NX and CATIA).
- Gauge Design: Conceptualize and design specialized inspection gauges (e.g., Go/No-Go gauges, functional gauges, CMM holding fixtures) to verify complex aerospace geometries.
- Ergonomics & Safety: Incorporate ergonomic principles and safety standards into tool designs to ensure they are safe and efficient for shop-floor operators to use, maneuver, and load/unload.
- Material Selection: Select appropriate materials for based on working environment, weight constraints, thermal expansion properties, and durability requirements.
- Structural Analysis: Perform basic structural analysis ensure fixtures can support the cutting forces, weight and stress of heavy aerospace components without deflecting.
- Advanced GD&T Application: Strictly apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5 standards to all tooling and gauge designs to ensure they meet stringent aerospace tolerances.
- Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis: Perform complex tolerance stack-up calculations to guarantee that the fixture or gauge will not consume the allowable tolerance of the actual flight part.
- Process Development: Collaborate closely with Manufacturing Engineers and CNC Programmers to develop machining and assembly strategies, determining how the part will be held, located, and processed at each manufacturing stage.
- Tool Tryout Support: Work hands-on with the tool room, metrology lab, and production floor during the "tryout" or "buyoff" phase to troubleshoot and validate newly manufactured fixtures and gauges.
- Supplier Coordination: Liaise with external toolmakers and vendors, providing design reviews and clarifying requirements for outsourced fixture builds.
- Detailed Drafting: Create comprehensive 2D manufacturing drawings for tool fabrication, including detailed bills of materials (BOMs), hardware callouts, and assembly instructions.
- Configuration Management: Manage tooling revisions and engineering change records to ensure strict traceability.
- First Article Inspection Support: Assist the quality team during the FAI process by ensuring the checking fixtures and gauges are calibrated and functioning as intended.
- Other jobs, like preparing manufacturing engineering documents and CNC programs, assigned by engineering manager
Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
- Minimum of 5 years' experience in manufacturing engineering and fixture designing or a related industry (aerospace experience preferred).
- Solid understanding of CAD/CAM systems, GD&T, and CNC programming for multi-axis operations.
- Proficient with shop mathematics and conventional machining processes.
- Experience with Siemens NX and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Strong communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
Preferred Qualifications: - Familiarity with advanced manufacturing processes such as EDM, grinding, plasma coatings, heat treatment, laser drilling, or welding.
- Experience working with inspection techniques and quality systems in a regulated industry.
- Exposure to lean manufacturing, PFMEA, or Six Sigma methodologies.
- Previous experience with airflow component processes or aerospace part validation is a plus.
Physical Requirements: - Regularly required to sit and use hands to handle components and computer equipment.
- Frequently required to talk, hear, and interact with shop floor and office personnel.
- Occasionally required to stand, walk, reach, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- May occasionally lift or move up to 10 lbs.
- Must have close vision and color vision for reading technical documents and performing inspections.
Compensation & Benefits: Pursuit Aerospace also offers a variety of benefits, including health insurance, EAP, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on your employment classification - whether you're full-time, part-time, or a contractor
