Airbus

Senior Mechanical Engineer-Tooling Expert

Airbus$123K — $145K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field with over 8 years of tooling/design engineering experience.
  • Proficiency in mechanical design tools such as SolidWorks and CATIA, with hands-on experience in designing mechanisms.
  • Deep knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and production-scale deployment.
  • Experience with electric motors, gears, and client integration in robotics systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead projects with cross-functional collaboration and guide junior engineers.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop innovative mechanical systems for advanced robotic platforms.
  • Prototype and test automated assembly mechanisms, ensuring they meet stringent engineering standards.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software and electrical engineers, on product lifecycles.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues reported by customers involving automated tooling.
  • Manage projects, ensuring quality and efficiency in execution while mentoring junior team members.

Benefits

  • Competitive base salary with incentive compensation options, including profit sharing and ESOP participation.
  • Generous paid time off and a robust paid parental leave program.
  • Comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Access to extensive professional development opportunities through a global Leadership University.
  • Hybrid work model promoting work/life balance with the flexibility of remote work options.
Full Job Description

Job Description:

Job Summary:  The Mechanical Engineer 3 is a senior‑level contributor responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing complex mechanical systems and tooling for advanced robotic platforms.

This role requires deep expertise in the design and implementation of advanced jigs, fixtures, and automated or semi-automated tooling systems for aerospace applications. The successful candidate will bring a strong background in precision tooling design, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and production-scale deployment, ensuring robust, repeatable assembly processes. Experience leading tooling development efforts, collaborating with manufacturing, quality, and integration teams, and driving continuous improvement in tooling performance, cost, and reliability is highly desired.

How we care for you:

  • Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).
  • Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.
  • Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages. 
  • Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programs and both national and international mobility.
  • Salary range: $123,000-$145,000/year based on candidate profile

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Design, Prototype, and Test
    • Formulate innovative conceptual designs and evolve them into final designs to meet customer requirements.
    • Propose new and innovative solutions for complex mechanical systems.
    • Fabricate, modify, and test robotic and automated assembly prototypes.
    • Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on automated assembly prototypes.
    • Work with Software, Electrical, System Engineers and Project Management to ensure a successful product lifecycle.
    • Performs hands-on work when needed.
  • Troubleshoot
    • Plan or coordinate activities to investigate and resolve customers' reports of technical problems with automated tooling.
    • Review performance reports and documentation from customers and field engineers and inspect malfunctioning or damaged products to determine the problem.
    • Contribute to technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
  • Project Manage and Document
    • Develops, plans, and executes a project and leads one or more operators, technicians, and/or associate engineers on the execution of design tasks, prototype builds, and test setups. Designs high-quality experiments with fast iteration speed. Is responsible for the execution of an entire project task. Leads project tasks and is responsible with minimal guidance for technical leadership within those project tasks. Owns the quality of execution, iteration speed, quality of the decision-making, and quality of the results (as appropriate) of project tasks.
    • Exercises discretion and independent judgment in the application of specialized knowledge on work that is predominantly intellectual and for which the output produced or the result accomplished cannot be standardized in relation to a given period of time.
    • Guides and trains more junior members of the team.

Qualified Experience and Training: 

Education:

Required

  • Combination of technical degree and years of experience. Mechanical Engineering, Tooling Design, related field.

Experience:

Required

  • Over 8 years of experience in tooling/design engineering
  • Able to execute day-to-day work without instruction or guidance. Begins to mentor junior engineers, occasionally approaching senior engineers for technical guidance and advice on new assignments.
  • Experience working with power tools, hand tools, and machine shop equipment is a must.
  • Hands-on experience working with, electric motors, gears, seals, springs, and fasteners is a must.
  • Experience designing mechanisms is a must.
  • Three or more years of experience with mechanical design tools such as SolidWorks, CATIA, etc. is required.
  • Experience with Finite Element Analysis and modeling tools is desired.
  • Experience with pneumatics, linear guides, ball screws, and position sensors is a must.
  • Experience working with robots is a plus.
  • Experience designing and building jigs and automated tooling
  • Experience with designing large weldment structures

Travel Required:

  •      10% Domestic and International

Citizenship: US person

Qualified Skills: 

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

Required

  • Advanced 3D CAD proficiency (CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) including complex assemblies
  • Mechanical system design for robotics: mechanisms, linkages, actuators, motion systems
  • Tolerance analysis (GD&T, stack‑ups, precision fits)
  • Structural and thermal analysis (FEA, hand calculations, material selection)
  • Design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA)
  • Experience with electromechanical integration (motors, sensors, wiring, PCBs)
  • Knowledge of robotics‑specific components (gears, bearings, transmissions, linear motion systems)
  • Prototyping and hands‑on fabrication (machining, 3D printing, rapid iteration)
  • Understanding of control systems and kinematics (not necessarily coding, but system‑level awareness)
  • Knowledge of designing jigs and automated tooling

Communication Skills:

Required:

  • Clear Technical Communication
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Requirements and Specification communication
  • Constructive Feedback
  • Problem Solving and Professional communication

Technical Systems Proficiency:

Required:

  • Solidworks
  • CATIA
  • Jira

Physical Requirements:

  • Onsite or remote:  Hybrid
  • Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily
  • Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily
  • Speaking:  able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily
  • Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily
  • Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.Daily
  • Lifting:  able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily
  • Pushing / Pulling:  able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Daily
  • Sitting:  able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer. Daily
  • Squatting / Kneeling:  able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Daily
  • Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on production floor. Daily
  • Travel:  able to travel independently and at short notice. 10%
  • Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents):  able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily
  • Personal Protective Equipment required:  Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Robotics LLC

Employment Type:

Permanent

Experience Level:

Professional

Remote Type:

On-site

Job Family:

Mechanics & Mechatronics

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About Airbus

Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells civil and military aeronautical products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, and Airbus Defence and Space. The Airbus segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial jet aircraft of approximately 100 seats; and regional turboprop aircraft and aircraft components, as well as provides aircraft conversion and related services. The Airbus Helicopters segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells civil and military helicopters; and offers helicopter related services. The Airbus Defence and Space segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells military aircraft, such as combat, mission, transport, and tanker aircraft; and missile systems, military satellites, and defence electronics, as well as provides defence related services. The company was formerly known as Airbus Group SE and changed its name to Airbus SE in April 2017. Airbus SE was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Blagnac, France.
Learn more about Airbus
Size
135,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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