Tooling Designer, High Pressure Die Casting

SpaceX
Bastrop, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for tooling designers with high-pressure die casting expertise who can navigate complex geometries and collaborate across disciplines.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience designing structural aluminum die casting dies and optimizing casting processes
    — “Experience designing structural aluminum die casting dies”
  • Individuals who have successfully taken complex tooling from design through production qualification
    — “Demonstrated success taking complex tooling from design through production qualification”
  • Professionals skilled in advanced GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis for aerospace applications
    — “Apply advanced GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis to complex airfoil geometries”

Things to consider

  • Willingness to work extended hours and weekends is expected to meet production deadlines
    — “Willingness to work extended hours and weekends when required”
  • Up to 25% travel to external suppliers and SpaceX facilities is required
    — “Must be willing to travel (up to 25%) to external suppliers and other SpaceX facilities”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with shrinkage, warpage, and solidification compensation in die casting
    — “Account for shrinkage, warpage, and solidification”
  • Emphasize in-depth knowledge of high pressure die casting tooling design and requirements
    — “In-depth knowledge of high pressure die casting tooling design”
  • Demonstrate hands-on experience with die tryouts and process development
    — “Hands-on experience supporting die tryouts and casting process development”
  • Demonstrate ability to translate designs into production-ready tooling with vendors
    — “Interface with internal manufacturing teams and external tooling vendors”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • designed high-precision die casting tools
  • optimized casting yield
Typical background
3+ years of experience in die casting tool design

Skills & requirements

Required

High Pressure Die CastingTooling DesignCasting SimulationsGD&TTolerance Stack-up Analysis

Preferred

DFM InitiativesCNC Tool Making

Stack & domain

High Pressure Die CastingSiemens NXCasting SimulationsFirst-principles AnalysisGatingVentingCoolingWarp CompensationShrinkageWarpageSolidificationGD&TTolerance Stack-up AnalysisAirfoil GeometriesDesign For ManufacturabilityDFMManufacturing Die Cast ToolingCNCTool MakingLeadershipCommunicationTeamworkCollaborationProblem-solvingAttention To Detail

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

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.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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