Tooling Inspector

Overview:

Responsible for end-to-end verification and validation of aerospace tooling—from design and fabrication oversight to final inspections. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure tooling meets strict quality, safety, and regulatory standards. Maintains production flow by confirming all tooling is precise, compliant, and properly documented.

Responsibilities:

• Advanced Tooling Verification
• • Review and interpret engineering drawings, 3D models, and technical documents to confirm design intent.
  • Validate jigs, fixtures, and handling equipment for release into production, ensuring compliance with design specifications and aerospace standards.
• Metrology & Inspection
• • Demonstrated expertise in operating Romer Arms, Leica Laser Trackers (401 and AT960 models), FARO arms, and other advanced measurement tools.
  • Create and utilize inspection plans in Spatial Analyzer (SA) software, PolyWorks, or equivalent, to ensure consistent, repeatable measurements.
• Design Collaboration & Process Optimization
• • Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to review tooling designs and conduct design-for-manufacturability assessments.
  • Provide expert feedback during design reviews to refine and optimize tooling for efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Track and manage tooling builds from concept through final validation, ensuring all documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Documentation & Compliance
• • Write comprehensive inspection summaries, technical reports, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tooling use and periodic maintenance.
  • Ensure all tooling documentation meets internal quality standards and external regulatory requirements (e.g., AS9100, customer specifications).
  • Maintain data integrity in relevant systems, ensuring records are detailed, accurate, and readily accessible for audits.
• Risk Identification & Mitigation
• • Proactively identify potential risks in tooling design or manufacturing processes and aid in developing mitigation strategies.
  • Assist in root-cause-corrective-action analysis efforts for any tooling-related nonconformances, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Continuous Improvement
• • Drive continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing historical inspection data to identify trends, recurring issues, and opportunities to optimize tooling designs.
  • Champion best practices for tooling inspection and contribute to the development and refinement of quality processes.
• Planning & Organization
• • Coordinate scheduling for periodic tooling inspections and ensure alignment with production timelines.
  • Stamp, label, or otherwise mark tooling in accordance with regulatory and internal identification requirements.
  • Maintain an organized record of inspection data, calibration certificates, and maintenance records for all relevant equipment and tooling.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; advanced technical coursework or associate degree preferred.
• Two or more years of hands-on experience with aerospace tooling design, fabrication, and inspection, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Technical Skills

• Metrology Equipment: Proficient with Romer Arms, Leica Laser Trackers, FARO arms, and other coordinate measuring systems.
• Software Proficiency: CATIA V5, Spatial Analyzer (SA), PolyWorks, Microsoft Word, Excel.
• Engineering Knowledge: Familiarity with design-for-manufacturability principles and stress analysis methods for tooling and handling devices.
• GD&T Expertise: Proficient in ANSI Y14 standards and geometric dimensioning & tolerancing.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures, engineering drawings, and regulatory documents.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to write detailed technical summaries and standard operating procedures.

Math Skills

• Ability to perform advanced arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) including working with fractions, decimals, and geometry/trigonometry relevant to inspection.
• Experience computing rate, ratio, percentage, and interpreting visual data representations.

Other Abilities

• Detail-oriented, with demonstrated organizational and documentation management skills.
• Strong problem-solving approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities or urgent issues.
• Strong ability to work independently with minimal manager or team guidance.
• Capable of identifying, communicating, and mitigating risks in a proactive manner.

 

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• The noise level in certain work areas can be loud; safety equipment (e.g., hearing protection) may be required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

 

Travel

• Ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally to support tooling inspections, vendor assessments, or off-site manufacturing facilities.