Fabrication Technician

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation•Coatesville, PA

About The Position

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation’s Fabrication Technician works in the Operations Machine Shop to manufacture precision, low-volume prototype components and install and integrate them onto experimental rotorcraft and unmanned aircraft. The role bridges engineering concepts and flight hardware, supporting aircraft research, development, production, and flight testing. It involves operating manual and NC machine tools, fabricating parts from engineering drawings and other technical references, performing aircraft alterations and repairs, and maintaining required aerospace quality documentation and traceability. The technician works directly with design and stress engineers, project engineers, purchasing, contractors, factory representatives, and flight-test teams in an agile development environment. The position also includes sheet-metal and composite fabrication, aircraft structural and mechanical work, inspection, and related duties as needed to meet organizational needs.

Requirements

At least 3 years of hands-on experience in precision machining, toolmaking, or prototype aircraft fabrication or assembly.
Certified Machinist qualification, such as journeyman status, vocational trade certification, or recognized trade apprenticeship; alternatively, aviation maintenance experience equivalent to this qualification with documented machining proficiency.
Demonstrated ability to operate manual 3-axis mills, lathes, and/or NC-controlled machines without supervision.
Proficiency reading and interpreting aerospace engineering blueprints, revision blocks, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
Practical familiarity working under AS9100, ISO 9001, or an equivalent regulated aerospace quality management system.
Working experience with aerospace alloys, including aluminum 2024/7075, stainless steels, titanium, and 4130 chromoly, as well as engineering plastics.
Basic CAD/CAM experience, such as Fusion 360, Mastercam, or SolidWorks, for conversational NC toolpath generation.
Sheet-metal forming and composite-structure fabrication experience.
Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and learn additional computer skills or software programs.
Ability to understand and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Strong professional customer-service skills, including active listening, prompt service, and follow-up.
Strong decision-analysis and problem-solving skills, including the ability to draw conclusions and justify decisions.
Ability to communicate issues to management.
Ability to learn and understand corporate policies and procedures and how they relate to organizational goals.
Ability to perform basic mathematical computations.
High degree of self-motivation and ability to work independently.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds overhead, remain on one’s feet throughout the day, and walk up to 2 miles per day.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working on experimental or prototype aircraft in a research and development, startup, or flight-test environment.
TIG welding experience is desired.
Working knowledge of advanced software applications is preferred.

Responsibilities

Fabricate, assemble, and install prototype equipment on rotorcraft for production and research and development.
Interpret blueprints, modification work orders, technical orders, military technical manuals, schematics, and rudimentary drawings.
Install prototype equipment on aircraft and modify existing airframes to accommodate installations.
Coordinate with project engineering personnel and provide technical assistance to engineers, contractors, and factory representatives.
Set up and operate manual and NC-controlled 3-axis milling machines, engine lathes, drill presses, saws, and basic sheet-metal fabrication tools.
Produce complex, tight-tolerance metallic and non-metallic prototype parts from engineering drawings, CAD models, sketches, and red-line markups.
Install prototype mechanical, structural, and electromechanical systems on prototype and test aircraft.
Execute structural modifications, retrofits, and airframe alterations in accordance with engineering dispositions, design change notices, and flight-test requirements.
Perform precision drilling, reaming, fastener installation, and fit checks on aircraft airframes.
Perform first-article dimensional inspections using precision measurement tools and maintain AS9100 traceability for raw materials, hardware, and tools.
Follow internal work instructions, complete traveler/router logbooks, and generate non-conformance reports.
Work with design and stress engineers to assess design for manufacturability and design for assembly.
Coordinate with purchasing to outsource production steps such as surface treatment and identify tooling, raw stock, and specialized hardware.
Repair sheet metal on a variety of rotorcraft using appropriate materials and repair techniques.
Work with aluminum, steel alloys, stainless steel, copper, brass, and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals to fabricate aircraft-modification parts.
Operate sheet-metal-shop tools and equipment, including measurement tools, crimping and forming machines, lathes, milling machines, saws, drill presses, and gas and heli-arc welding machines.
Perform other related duties as needed to meet the organization’s ongoing needs.