R&D Mechanical Technician

Heaviside Industries, Inc. • Marina del Rey, CA

13d • $65,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Heaviside Industries is hiring an R&D Mechanical Technician to build, test, troubleshoot, and support prototype air and undersea vehicles and related subassemblies. The role works from engineering drawings, work instructions, engineering change orders, and guidance from engineering, and includes bench testing avionics, power systems, and sensors; supporting outdoor and underwater field tests; and recording build and test information.

The technician will collaborate with engineers to troubleshoot hardware and improve designs, procedures, yield, and reliability. The position also helps prepare builds for repeatable production by drafting and improving work instructions and test procedures, while maintaining test equipment, tools, inventory, and organized lab and shop spaces. Heaviside conducts engineering and manufacturing in-house at its Los Angeles headquarters and Oslo office.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of hands-on experience building, testing, or troubleshooting mechanical or electromechanical hardware in an R&D, prototype, or production setting in aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, or robotics.
• Skill using multimeters, oscilloscopes, bench power supplies, and torque tools to diagnose and verify hardware.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, schematics, and wiring diagrams and accurately follow detailed work instructions.
• Careful documentation habits, including maintaining build records, test data, and nonconformance reports in an ERP, MES, or similar system.
• Willingness to work in lab and shop environments and at outdoor field test sites, including lifting and spending extended time on one's feet.
• Must meet the job posting's U.S. Person requirement as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.62).

Nice To Haves

• Active or prior U.S. security clearance.
• Associate degree or technical certification in electronics, mechatronics, or a related field.
• A&P License.
• Experience with UAVs, missiles, torpedoes, or underwater vehicles, including integration and test.
• Proficiency with soldering, crimping, and harness assembly, with working knowledge of IPC-A-610 or J-STD-001 workmanship standards.
• IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, or IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification.
• Experience with composites layup, potting, or sealing for waterproof or pressure-rated enclosures.

Responsibilities

• Build, assemble, and integrate prototype air and undersea vehicles and subassemblies using drawings, work instructions, engineering change orders, and engineering guidance.
• Run bench tests on avionics, power systems, and sensors, and record results in test logs and the production tracking system.
• Support outdoor and underwater vehicle field tests, including setup, data collection, and recovery.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical hardware faults with engineers.
• Draft and improve work instructions and test procedures to make builds repeatable as production scales.
• Provide engineers with feedback on system usability, functionality, and maintainability to inform design improvements.
• Maintain test fixtures, tools, and calibrated equipment; keep lab and shop spaces organized and inventory accurate.
• Flag nonconformances and provide feedback to design and manufacturing engineers to improve yield and reliability.

Benefits

• Eligible full-time hires may receive long-term incentives in the form of stock options.
• Access to medical coverage.
• Access to vision coverage.
• Access to dental coverage.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed