Manufacturing Engineering Technician

RED CAT HOLDINGS•San Diego, CA

2d•$33 - $47•Onsite

About The Position

Apium Swarm Robotics (ASR) develops swarm autonomy software for air, surface, undersea, and ground vehicles used in commercial and defense environments. The Manufacturing Engineering Technician supports the build, integration, testing, and troubleshooting of ASR unmanned systems and equipment. This hands-on, floor-facing role works across mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical disciplines with engineering and production teams, assembling and validating components, executing tests, diagnosing faults, fabricating and maintaining fixtures, and supporting prototypes and new-product introduction. The technician works closely with the Manufacturing Engineer, design engineering, production, and quality teams, and reports to ASR’s Senior Engineering Manager, Manufacturing & Operations. The position is based on-site at ASR’s San Diego, California facility; the nature of the work is not compatible with remote or hybrid arrangements. Occasional off-hours or weekend work may be required for emergency projects, and travel of up to 10% may be required for customer integration and operational needs. The role requires U.S. Person status and access to export-controlled hardware, software, technology, or technical data. Candidates subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization. Employment is contingent on successfully completing a post-offer background check. The stated pay range is $32.71–$47.11 per hour, plus an annual equity package and potential bonuses.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Person.
5–7 years of experience in an aerospace or similar production environment.
Ability to read and work from mechanical and electrical drawings, schematics, assembly drawings, and written work instructions; familiarity with GD&T.
Hands-on mechanical assembly and electronics troubleshooting using standard test and measurement equipment, including calipers, DMMs, oscilloscopes, and power supplies.
Proficiency with hand and power tools; soldering and rework capability; familiarity with IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 acceptance criteria.
Comfort working in a fast-moving production environment with disciplined documentation and traceability habits.
Ability to work independently with limited oversight.
Ability to remain calm and effective under operational pressure.
Ability to walk, stand, and navigate large indoor and outdoor facilities for extended periods.
Ability to regularly lift, carry, and move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.
Ability to use required PPE and, as needed, climb ladders, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
Ability to work in facility conditions that may include noise, dust, temperature fluctuations, and industrial equipment.
Ability to travel up to 10% based on customer integration and operational needs.
Must successfully complete a post-offer background check.
For work subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions, must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

Nice To Haves

Experience in defense, aerospace, or UAS/USV production under AS9100.
IPC-A-610 and/or J-STD-001 certification; CIS/CIT certification is a plus.
Familiarity with unmanned systems, including flight controllers, ESCs, RF/comms links, GNSS, batteries, ground-control hardware, and mechanical airframe or hull structures.
Fixture and tooling fabrication experience; exposure to additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and post-processing.
Exposure to NDAA-compliant or Blue UAS supply-chain requirements.
Experience with test automation, provisioning and flashing tooling, or bench data capture.
U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Assemble, integrate, and rework mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical assemblies, harnesses, and subsystems to drawings, work instructions, and workmanship standards.
Read and work from mechanical and electrical drawings, schematics, and assembly instructions, including GD&T and tolerance callouts.
Execute functional and acceptance test procedures across drone, ground-control-station, and software systems; record results and dispositions in the production tracking system.
Troubleshoot and diagnose mechanical and electronic faults, including component-level electrical troubleshooting.
Fabricate and maintain fixtures, jigs, and test stands; perform soldering and through-hole and surface-mount rework as needed.
Support integration and test work, including bring-up, flashing and provisioning, calibration, and end-of-line verification.
Document non-conformances and support MRB/disposition activity and root-cause and corrective-action investigations.
Maintain build records and traceability consistent with AS9100 and NDAA/Blue UAS component-provenance requirements.
Support prototyping and new-product introduction by building engineering units, validating work instructions, and providing producibility feedback to design and process engineering.
Operate and maintain shop, bench, and test equipment; keep the work area 5S-compliant and ESD-controlled.
Continuously improve fixtures, test stands, and station layouts to reduce cycle time and improve first-pass yield.