Tooling Designer, High Pressure Die Casting at SpaceX
- In Bastrop, TX.
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. TOOLING DESIGNER, HIGH PRESSURE DIE CASTING SpaceX is seeking a Tooling Designer for High Pressure Die Casting, to own the design and development of die casting tools and trim dies used to produce casted components. This role is critical to scaling reliable, high-performance components. You will design complex tooling that must repeatedly deliver extremely tight tolerances and reliable performance while supporting aggressive rate and cost targets. As a member of the materials team, you will work closely with materials, casting, and manufacturing engineers to develop tooling solutions from concept through production qualification. Your designs will directly impact casting yield, dimensional stability, and the overall manufacturability of mission-critical hardware. RESPONSIBILITIES: Design high-precision die casting tooling and trim dies to be manufactured and used in-house Interpret and enable casting simulations and apply first-principles analysis to optimize gating, venting, cooling, and warp compensation Account for shrinkage, warpage, and solidification to consistently meet stringent dimensional and metallurgical requirements Own tooling designs from concept through tryout, qualification, and production release Collaborate closely casting engineers, materials scientists, and vendors to troubleshoot tooling-related casting defects and improve yield Apply advanced GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis to complex airfoil geometries Support design for manufacturability (DFM) initiatives to enable high-rate production while maintaining quality and cost targets Interface with internal manufacturing teams and external tooling vendors to ensure designs are successfully translated into reliable production tooling Drive continuous improvement of tooling standards, materials, and maintenance practices for high-volume casting operations BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 3+ years of professional experience designing high pressure die casting molds Experience with Siemens NX PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: In-depth knowledge of high pressure die casting tooling design Extensive knowledge of high pressure die casting tool design requirements Experience designing structural aluminum die casting dies Demonstrated success taking complex tooling from design through production qualification Deep understanding of the die casting process and associated shrinkage/ distortion mechanisms Experience working in a fast-paced, high-mix manufacturing environment Hands-on experience supporting die tryouts and casting process development Experience with manufacturing die cast tooling, including CNC and tool making ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Willingness to work extended hours and weekends when required to support hardware delivery and production campaigns Must be willing to travel (up to 25%) to external suppliers and other SpaceX facilities ITAR REQUIREMENTS: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here. SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. …