As a leading force in global technology, the aerospace sector, including industry leaders such as Boeing, Bombardier, Grumman, and Cessna, fuels the research and development of critical components for military, commercial, and private aircraft. This dynamic field presents exceptional career opportunities for those passionate about engineering and scientific exploration.
Tooling Designer
“The aerospace industry is a testament to the human ability to defy gravity and reach for the stars.”
Unknown
In the world of aerospace, where precision and innovation are paramount, there exists a group of professionals whose work often goes unnoticed but is crucial to the industry’s success. These unsung heroes are the Aerospace Tooling Designers. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of tooling design and discover what makes this profession so vital.
The Role of an Aerospace Tooling Designer
Aerospace Tooling Designers are the masterminds behind the creation of complex tools used in industrial manufacturing. Their work involves engineering the initial designs of new equipment, which are essential for producing a wide range of products. Using computer programs, design sketches, engineering data, and intricate equations, they account for stress tolerances, temperature expansions, and other potential situations to create fixtures, jigs, molds, and dies1.
Path to Becoming an Aerospace Tooling Designer
To embark on a career as an Aerospace Tooling Designer, one typically needs a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience. While no prior work experience in a related occupation is required, having experience as a machinist or supervisor of automated systems is preferred. An industry-specific background is also a plus2.
Job Outlook and Opportunities
The employment of Aerospace Tooling Designers is expected to grow by 9% from 2010 to 2020, which is slower than the average for all occupations3. Despite this, the role remains critical in ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of manufacturing processes in the aerospace industry.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Aerospace Tooling Designers have a wide range of responsibilities, including investigating, developing, and verifying the accuracy of tooling concepts and definitions. They lead activities related to creating and revising drawings, models, and tool usage instructions for complex tools. Additionally, they prepare tool design or fabrication offload packages, provide engineering design dispositions on complex tool discrepancies, and conduct root cause analysis for repetitive, systemic problems4.
Skills and Abilities
To excel in this role, a Tooling Designer must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience, along with proficiency in CAD, Unigraphics, and MS Office. They should have at least five years of mechanical tooling design experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment567.
Physical Demands
The job of an Aerospace Tooling Designer can be physically demanding. It requires frequent use of hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls, as well as standing or walking for long periods. The ability to see details of objects that are less than a few feet away, make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls, and grasp, move, or assemble very small objects is essential8.
Conclusion
Aerospace Tooling Designers play a pivotal role in the aerospace industry, ensuring that the tools used in manufacturing are designed with precision and efficiency. Their expertise and dedication contribute significantly to the success of aerospace projects, making them indispensable to the industry. If you have a passion for engineering and a keen eye for detail, a career as an Aerospace Tooling Designer might be the perfect fit for you.