Lead Production Technician

Auterion•Manassas, VA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

At Auterion, the US production team assembles and tests autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers to tight deadlines and uncompromising quality standards. The Lead Production Technician is the most skilled hands-on technician on the build floor, responsible for assembling and testing autonomous systems to specifications and schematics, setting soldering and wiring workmanship standards, and guiding technicians to deliver quality units on schedule. The role combines hands-on craftsmanship, technical discipline, and leadership. It includes leading assembly work, inspecting soldering and wiring, mentoring technicians, conducting functional checks and troubleshooting, maintaining traceable build records, upholding quality and safety protocols, improving production processes, managing materials and equipment, and supporting 3D printing and basic fabrication. The position is full-time and on-site, Monday through Friday.

Requirements

Current IPC J-STD-001 certification at least at CIS (Certified IPC Specialist) level, or ability to obtain it within 30 days of hire.
Demonstrated hands-on through-hole and surface-mount soldering, rework, and wire termination skills; ability to show work examples or pass a practical soldering assessment.
Experience in electronics assembly, robotics, RC aircraft or drones, or mechanical assembly.
Ability to read and follow technical diagrams, schematics, and manuals.
Ability to troubleshoot simple electrical and mechanical issues and perform basic functionality checks.
Consistent and accurate record-keeping and a strong quality mindset.
Ability to work full-time, on-site Monday through Friday, and meet tight deadlines.

Nice To Haves

IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification.
IPC-A-610 certification.
IPC J-STD-001 or IPC-A-610 CIT (Trainer) credential, or NASA-STD-8739 / military soldering certification.
Prior lead, trainer, or mentoring experience.
Experience working in an ISO9001 or AS9100 certified manufacturing facility.
Familiarity with 3D printing and basic CAD design.

Responsibilities

Assemble autonomous systems and related components according to specifications, schematics, and work instructions; help plan daily build priorities and keep production on schedule.
Perform and inspect soldering, wiring, harness, and mechanical fitting work to certified workmanship standards; rework or reject non-conforming work.
Coach assembly technicians on soldering, wiring, and assembly techniques; check their work, provide feedback, and help maintain their skills and certifications.
Run initial functionality checks on completed units, troubleshoot component- and wiring-level issues, and escalate complex failures to engineering.
Document assembly progress, test results, serial numbers, and configuration, keeping build records complete and traceable.
Ensure quality standards and safety protocols are followed, including ESD controls, safe handling of batteries and tools, and maintaining a clean, organized workstation.
Provide engineering and production leadership with practical feedback to improve build instructions, tooling, fixtures, and yield.
Maintain soldering stations, tools, and fixtures in calibrated, good working order; track parts, flag shortages, and support inventory control.
Use 3D printing and basic CAD to produce fixtures, mounts, and small parts as needed.