Tooling, Automation & Controls Manager (next-gen defense manufacturing)<$350k total comp incl equity

Tooling, Automation & Controls Manager Industry: Defense & Aerospace Manufacturing Location: Torrance, CA 90501 (On-site) Job Type: Full-time Salary: $200,000 - $230,000 a year Total Compensation: $300,000 - $350,000 (including competitive equity) Job Description About the Company We are a premier recruitment firm partnering with a hyper-growth, cutting-edge defense technology company that is revolutionising the aerospace and national security sectors. Backed by over $1B in funding from top-tier venture capital firms and holding $125M+ in government contracts , our client is rapidly scaling from prototype development into high-rate production for next-generation aerospace systems.The culture is built on technical excellence, high velocity, and extreme ownership. The engineering team is comprised of elite talent from high-velocity hardware companies (including SpaceX alumni and top defense tech startups) who thrive on building complex hardware from scratch. About the Role We are seeking a hands-on Tooling, Automation & Controls Manager with 8+ years of experience to lead the strategic direction and execution of all manufacturing tooling, automation, and controls. You will own the decision-making on what tooling needs to be built, how complex it needs to be, and how to deploy it safely across production programs. This includes critical operations involving energetic materials and rocket propulsion systems.Reporting directly to the Director of Manufacturing Capacity Development, you will manage and scale a growing team of tooling engineers during a pivotal transition into high-rate manufacturing. What You Will Do Strategic Direction: Direct all tooling development across production programs&mdash;determining fixtures, automated work cells, and robotic systems to deploy on the production floor. High-Stakes Problem Solving: Solve handling challenges for energetic materials, designing tooling for moving large volumes of propellant mixtures at an expansive manufacturing facility. Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and build an engineering team, prioritizing high-value work that directly unblocks production bottlenecks. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with facilities, manufacturing, and vehicle engineering teams to ensure tooling designs account for floor layout, dynamic loading, and strict safety requirements. End-to-End Execution: Drive projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management, capital equipment procurement, and controls system deployment. Qualifications & Requirements Experience: 8 to 15 years of proven experience in tooling design, automation, and controls for complex manufacturing environments. Track Record: This is not a process-only role. You must have a demonstrable background in physically building real, complex automation or hardware systems. Work Authorization: Must be a US Citizen or Green Card holder due to ITAR/defense contract regulations. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship. On-Site Policy: 5 days per week in-office at the Torrance, CA campus. Travel: Ability to travel up to 30% to a major satellite production facility in New Mexico. Preferred Tech Stack Experience CAD & Design: SolidWorks, NX, AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN Controls & Automation: Rockwell Automation, Beckhoff, Siemens, PLC Programming, HMI, SCADA, Safety PLC Protocols & Hardware: EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, Machine Vision Benefits & Compensation Base Salary: $200,000 - $230,000 Total Target Compensation: $300,000 - $350,000 Equity: Highly competitive early-stage equity package (company share value has increased 150x in the last three years). Comprehensive health, dental, vision, retirement, and wellness benefits packages. Pay: $200,000.00 - $230,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Relocation assistance Vision insurance Application Question(s): Have you designed and built custom tooling/fixtures for large, complex assemblies? …

View the full posting and apply