Tooling Engineer

Karman Industries

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Gardena, California, Karman Industries is at the forefront of revolutionizing industrial thermal energy. Our mission is to electrify global thermal systems across data centers, manufacturing, and energy industries. Karman is developing the revolutionary Heat Processing Unit (HPU) to reinvent thermal handling for giga-scale data centers and AI factories. The HPU is built around a supercritical CO₂ chiller system utilizing a high-speed electrically driven turbomachinery core. Our system aims to reduce energy consumption in data center thermal management by more than 25% and increase energy density by 10x.

At Karman Industries, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our team is composed of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of industrial manufacturing.

Tooling Engineer

Karman Industries is seeking a motivated Tooling Engineer to support the development of the next generation of electric heat pumps for industrial process heat electrification. The ideal candidate will contribute to the design, analysis, and fabrication of production and assembly tooling within the Thermal01 heat pump platform and future product lines — getting sCO₂ turbomachinery systems from drawing to skid.

This role requires technical ownership spanning structural, fabrication, and assembly hardware. You will drive tooling design from concept through structural analysis, fabrication coordination, and on-floor commissioning — for everything from large weldment fixturing and precision alignment tooling to the lift, rigging, and transport equipment that moves a 120,000+ lb skid. We are a team that values first-principles thinking, hands-on problem solving, and close cross-functional collaboration to deliver cohesive, high-performance systems.

You'll work at the pace of a company standing up its first production line, where the tool you design this month may be load-tested and in use on the shop floor the next.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, development, and implementation of tooling, fixtures, and jigs for weldment fabrication, component alignment, and final skid assembly on Karman's sCO₂ turbomachinery systems

• Design and structurally validate (FEMAP/NX Nastran or ANSYS) lift, rigging, and transport tooling — spreader bars, tow/pull systems, forklift and crane interfaces — for large hardware up to 120,000+ lbs

• Partner with mechanical, turbomachinery, and manufacturing engineering to build DFM/DFA, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up feedback into hardware before release

• Generate 3D models, drawings, and fabrication packages (NX/Teamcenter); source and manage external fabrication vendors on cost, schedule, and quality

• Design tooling and equipment layouts that integrate cleanly with the production floor as it scales

• Support hands-on tooling installation, commissioning, and load testing/certification of safety-critical fixtures and lifting equipment, driving root cause and corrective action as issues arise

• Be a visible presence on the shop floor and maintain a live tooling schedule against program milestones, flagging risk early

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

• Experience designing tooling, jigs, or fixtures for production, assembly, or test environments

• Strong 3D CAD skills (NX preferred); proficiency in FEMAP/NX Nastran or ANSYS for structural analysis of tooling and lifting/rigging equipment — must-have

• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and structural sizing codes/standards for rigging equipment (e.g., ASME BTH-1, 49 CFR, ASCE 7)

• Familiarity with common fabrication processes (welding, machining, assembly, inspection) and how they inform tooling design

• Comfortable working hands-on during tool installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting alongside a fabrication/build team

• Strong ownership mentality and effective cross-disciplinary/vendor communication in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment

Physical Requirements

• Able to lift up to 50 lbs

• Comfortable spending time on the shop floor around active fabrication, assembly, and test operations

Desired Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or related field

• Exposure to turbomachinery, heat exchangers, or high-temperature fluid systems

• Experience with electromechanical tooling elements (motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings)

• Basic proficiency in Python or MATLAB, and familiarity with instrumentation/testing of thermal or mechanical systems

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay are determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, full-time hires may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision, and dental coverage, as well as a 401(k) retirement plan.

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with Karman Industries 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. Karman Industries provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process.