Design, release, and maintain tooling, fixtures, workholding, and GSE for CNC production. Create CAD models, drawings, BOMs, perform tolerance and manufacturability reviews, troubleshoot production issues, coordinate fabrication and commissioning, and drive continuous improvements in safety, quality, and throughput.
Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
We are seeking a highly motivated Tool & Fixture Design Engineer to support the development, sustainment, and continuous improvement of tooling, fixturing, and ground support equipment (GSE) for a CNC-based production environment. This role is responsible for designing and implementing manufacturing solutions that improve safety, quality, repeatability, and throughput across machining and assembly operations.
We are seeking a highly motivated Tool & Fixture Design Engineer to support the development, sustainment, and continuous improvement of tooling, fixturing, and ground support equipment (GSE) for a CNC-based production environment. This role is responsible for designing and implementing manufacturing solutions that improve safety, quality, repeatability, and throughput across machining and assembly operations.
The ideal candidate has strong mechanical design fundamentals, hands-on manufacturing experience, and the ability to collaborate closely with CNC programmers, machinists, manufacturing engineers, and production technicians in a fast-paced production setting.
What you'll do:
- Design and release tooling, fixtures, workholding, and mechanical equipment to support CNC machining and manufacturing
- Create CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and engineering documentation for production tooling
- Design and maintain ground support equipment (GSE) for assembly, integration, testing, and transportation
- Partner with manufacturing teams to optimize machining processes, tooling, and fixture designs
- Perform tolerance analyses, manufacturability reviews, and fit/function evaluations
- Troubleshoot tooling and production issues, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions
- Coordinate tooling fabrication, procurement, installation, validation, and commissioning
- Drive continuous improvements in safety, quality, cycle time, repeatability, equipment utilization, and cost
- Ensure tooling and equipment comply with safety, quality, and operational standards
What you'll bring:
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) related field
- 3+ years of tooling or manufacturing equipment design experience
- Experience with 3D CAD, CNC machining, GD&T, and manufacturing processes including machining, sheet metal, welding, assembly, and fabrication
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing fixtures for 4-axis and 5-axis CNC machining
- Knowledge of cutting tools, workholding systems, and machine setup optimization
- Experience in aerospace, automotive, robotics, or space hardware manufacturing
- Experience performing FEA, structural analysis, or load calculations for tooling and lifting equipment
- Experience with PLM/MRP systems and engineering change processes
- Knowledge of ergonomics and operator-centered tooling design
- Hands-on machining or fabrication experience
- Experience supporting environmental testing, integration, or production ground support equipment (GSE) systems
Work Environment
- Combination of office and manufacturing floor environments
- Ability to support production, solve manufacturing issues, collaborate across teams, and manage multiple priorities
- Frequent interaction with CNC machines, fabrication equipment, and production hardware
- Hands-on support of active production and integration operations may be required
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and work around industrial equipment safely
Benefits and Perks
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Home office set up reimbursement
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
About
Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life. Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.
Astrolab, Inc. Hawthorne, California, USA Office
Hawthorne, CA, United States
Similar Jobs
.png)
eCommerce • Fintech • Hardware • Payments • Software • Financial Services
Lead end-to-end delivery of high-priority, cross-functional Revenue initiatives including product and partnership launches. Develop integrated program plans, establish governance and operating cadences, drive cross-functional alignment, manage risks and dependencies, and create repeatable launch frameworks and executive communications to ensure successful market readiness and post-launch stabilization.
Cloud • Fintech • Software • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Financial Services
Lead buy- and sell-side Quality of Earnings engagements: analyze financials, assess earnings quality, working capital, and net debt; prepare diligence reports and presentations; manage VDRs; mentor junior staff; support valuation, deal structuring, integration planning, and business development.
Top Skills:
ExcelFinancial DatabasesVirtual Data Rooms
Cloud • Fintech • Software • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Financial Services
Provide controller-level advisory to skilled nursing clients: oversee financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, KPI/benchmarking analysis, technical accounting support, operational improvement recommendations, and lead and coach client teams to improve financial stability and reporting quality.
Top Skills:
PointclickcareQuickbooks OnlineSage Intacct
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
