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Tool design engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Charles Jenckes,

Bryant Harrison

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical tool design engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for tool design engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.1% of tool design engineer resumes contained solidworks as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a tool design engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 tool design engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Solidworks

Here's how tool design engineers use solidworks:

Draft and revise new and current drawings using computer aided programs such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
Designed and programmed plastic and die-cast molds with the use of SolidWorks and Anvil Express.

2. Jigs

Here's how tool design engineers use jigs:

Developed conceptual and detailed designs with structural analysis of transportation devices and jig fixtures.
Designed assembly fixtures and jigs for the joining of composite skin panels to sub-structural components for B2 military airplane.

3. GD

GD refers to Grade Delay and is often mentioned on report cards or academic records when the instructor of a particular subject decides to hold the grade of a student. This is usually done if the instructor wants the student to improve their grade by retaking the exam or doing something for extra credit that will ultimately enhance their overall grade. Eventually, when the grade is assigned, the GD is then replaced with the original grade.

Here's how tool design engineers use gd:

Applied GD & T for form, fit and function, performing tolerance stack-ups using MicroCAD.
Completed General Electric GD & T class.

4. Engineering Drawings

Engineering drawings are technical drawings that tell about the requirements for engineering components or equipment. Such drawings have standardized languages and symbols. There are multiple types of engineering drawings such as isometric drawing, orthographic or multiview drawing, schematic drawings, one view, and two view drawings, etc.

Here's how tool design engineers use engineering drawings:

Evaluate accuracy of production & engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
Used engineering drawings and data to model up various machining tools and parts to be used in programs or aircraft parts.

5. Aerospace

Aerospace refers to the physical science focusing on designing and developing, testing, and producing systems that aid in navigation to space or traverse through the earth's atmospheric zone.

Here's how tool design engineers use aerospace:

Group Tooling Engineer responsible for the daily activities of 15 Tool Designers for Aerospace Components and Assemblies.
Preformed tests of cutting tools for customer applications in the Aerospace and Automotive markets.

6. NX

NX is an advanced, high-end technology developed by Siemens PLM software comprising of CAD/CAM/CAE software package. The primary function of NX is to be used in design engineering analysis.

Here's how tool design engineers use nx:

Designed key components of and assemblies of vacuums Designed, modeled, and programmed all in house molds using NX CAD/CAM.
Use CAD software, Unigraphics NX 7.5, to design robotic and mechanical weld fixtures to new part data.

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7. Design Reviews

A dеѕіgn review іѕ a mіlеѕtоnе wіthіn a рrоduсt dеvеlорmеnt рrосеѕѕ іn whісh a design іѕ evaluated bаѕеd on іtѕ rеԛuіrеmеntѕ. Thе рurроѕе of dеѕіgn rеvіеwѕ іѕ tо examine thе overall design or a ѕресіfіс аѕресt оf a dеѕіgn аt еасh ѕtаgе of the development оf a nеw оr еxіѕtіng рrоduсt.

Here's how tool design engineers use design reviews:

Presented customer facing design reviews to acquire final design approval prior to releasing designs for manufacture.
Lead design reviews to ensure that safety, ergonomic, and regulatory requirements are met within each tool design.

8. Autocad

Here's how tool design engineers use autocad:

Performed product design functions using AutoCad.
Detailed documents and AutoCAD drawings of tooling and processes for manufacture of Magnetic Recording Heads for the Disk Drive industry.

9. CNC

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that usually uses computerized controls and machine tools to strip layers of material from a stock piece.

Here's how tool design engineers use cnc:

Designed cutting tools to make fastener's parts on CNC, Acme, Davenport and other types of machines.
Developed and implemented a CAD to CNC data transfer process which eliminated the necessity of manually entering part data.

10. Assembly Fixtures

Here's how tool design engineers use assembly fixtures:

Design of assembly fixtures and modification to existing tools for assembly of the Learjet 60 model.
Design of assembly fixtures on the G-V business jet.

11. Product Design

Product design can be described as a process of imagining, creating, and iterating products that solve user's problems and talk about the specific needs of users in the market. Product design is an engineering disciple and it is the basic design and idea that goes before the mass production of the product.

Here's how tool design engineers use product design:

Developed and implemented numerous design improvements that increased tool life and reduced product costs, and influenced product design.
Optimized product design and process improvements for ease of manufacturing and assembly using DFM and FMEA.

12. Catia V5

Here's how tool design engineers use catia v5:

Draft up detail and assembly design components, creating bill of materials using standard drafting techniques on CATIA V5.
Apply CATIA V5 to create 3D model, assembly, and drawing per Northrop Grumman design standards.

13. Design Engineering

Here's how tool design engineers use design engineering:

Interfaced with manufacturing engineering, design engineering, quality and production personnel to troubleshoot, clarify tasks and develop concepts.
Investigate highly complex design engineering changes for impact to existing definition to maintain engineering configuration and initiates action.

14. FEA

The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is software that can simulate physical phenomenon with the help of numerical procedures. FEA helps companies in developing better and cost-effective products by reducing the number of physical prototypes.

Here's how tool design engineers use fea:

Performed various mechanical FEA's on tooling assemblies to ensure the reliability of the mechanical assemblies.
Performed stress analysis by hand and using FEA.

15. Cad Cam

Here's how tool design engineers use cad cam:

Worked with supervisor of CAD CAM to establish standards and basic guidelines for CAM users.

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What skills help Tool Design Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on tool design engineer resumes?

Charles Jenckes

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student

What soft skills should all tool design engineers possess?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Engineers are constantly working with a variety of people on a project. These people could be other engineers in the same department or other departments, managers, stakeholders, and customers. The ability to communicate both on a technical and non-technical level with these people is likely the most important soft skill for a design engineer.

What hard/technical skills are most important for tool design engineers?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Designing, prototyping, testing, and iterating are likely the most important skills for a design engineer. This is what we strive to teach at Murray State in our Design Engineering Technology program. Many sub-skills would fall into these categories, such as CAD, design for manufacturing, 3D printing, and destructive/non-destructive testing.

What tool design engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Richard Onyancha

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

For students who would like to consider taking a gap year, depending on what their goals after graduation are, they could consider enhancing their skills in any of these areas:
- Technical hands-on skills such as CAD/CAM, simulation, design, and fabrication
- Global competency
- Public policy
- Job shadowing
- Preparing for and taking professional exams if, for example, considering medical school or law school

What type of skills will young tool design engineers need?

Andy Gerrick

Associate Professor and Chair, Embry-Riddle, Prescott

Most important is the ability to pull together the problem-solving skills learned in the different engineering courses to solve real-world, multidisciplinary, engineering problems. This requires a clear understanding of the problem and the requirements, and it requires a thorough understanding of engineering concepts. Memorizing problem solutions is of no value because no one will pay you to solve a problem that has already been solved. An engineer's ability to communicate is also extremely important. Engineering is a collaborative endeavor, so if you are not able to communicate your ideas, you are not contributing.

Do you want to know more?

List of tool design engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a tool design engineer resume and required skills for a tool design engineer to have include:

Solidworks
Jigs
GD
Engineering Drawings
Aerospace
NX
Design Reviews
Autocad
CNC
Assembly Fixtures
Product Design
Catia V5
Design Engineering
FEA
Cad Cam
Stress Analysis

Design Tools
Machine Shop
Troubleshoot
Lean Manufacturing
Shop Floor
Technical Support
ISO
Design Concepts
CAD/CAM
Aided Design
Sigma
Machine Tools
Unigraphics
R
Teamcenter
Process Improvement

Prototyping
Production Equipment
Stamping Dies
Assembly Tools
Assembly Drawings
Test Equipment
Design Changes
Design Process
OEM
PDM
MBD
Manufacturing Support
EDM
Test Fixtures
CMM

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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