Aerospace Structures / Drilling Technician

Aerotek; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Aerotek is seeking an Aerospace Structures Technician / Mechanical Assembler for a Long Beach, CA site on a contract-to-hire basis. The role focuses on drilling precision holes, assembling flight hardware, and performing high‑accuracy mechanical assembly on structural components using specialized tools and adhesives.

You will set up jigs and fixtures, torque fasteners to specification, install helicoils, and inspect with micrometers and calipers, all while maintaining 5S standards in a

Qualifications

• Experience drilling precision holes in aerospace components.
• Proficiency with drilling equipment and fixtures.
• Proficient with torque wrenches and verifying torque values.
• Experience working with aluminum and aerospace materials.
• Knowledge of structural bonding and adhesives prep.
• Experience installing helicoils and threaded inserts.
• Ability to work to tight tolerances (±0.001 inch).
• Familiarity with hiloks, rivets and aerospace fasteners.
• Proficient with precision measurement tools (micrometers/calipers).
• Ability to explain drilling processes clearly.

Responsibilities

• Drill precision holes in aerospace structural components and flight hardware with appropriate tooling.
• Set up tooling, jigs, fixtures for accurate drill alignment and repeatability.
• Assemble structural hardware using adhesives with proper bond prep and cure.
• Install and torque fasteners to specified values according to requirements.
• Install threaded inserts like helicoils with proper fit and alignment.
• Perform in-process inspections using micrometers, calipers, and pin gauges.
• Carry out deburring and blending to remove burrs and surface imperfections.
• Apply alodine or protective sealants after drilling and deburring.
• Follow bonding procedures and use sealants correctly.
• Use torque tools to verify correct torque on joints and fasteners.
• Work with aluminum and other aerospace materials safely and accurately.
• Support mechanical subassemblies and ensure proper function and alignment.

Skills

Precision drilling

Pneumatic drilling equipment

Torque wrench usage

Aerospace materials handling

Structural bonding

Helicoil inserts

Measurement tools

Deburring and blending

5S & shop safety

Fastener torque verification

Tools

Pneumatic drills

Torque wrenches

Calipers

Micrometers

Jigs and fixtures

Alodine application tools

Job description

Aerospace Structures Technician / Mechanical Assembler

Location: Long Beach, CA

Type of Position: 4 month contract to hire

Pay: $25/hr - $35/hr

Job Description

The Structure Technician drills precision holes, assembles flight hardware, and performs high-accuracy mechanical assembly on aerospace structural components. This role uses specialized tooling, structural adhesives, and precision measurement tools to ensure all work meets strict aerospace tolerances and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Drill precision holes in aerospace structural components and flight hardware, selecting appropriate drill motors, drill sizes, and drilling methods for each task.
• Set up and use appropriate tooling, jigs, fixtures, or egg cups to ensure accurate alignment and repeatability during drilling operations.
• Assemble structural hardware using structural adhesives, following correct bond preparation and cure processes.
• Install and properly torque fasteners, including hiloks, rivets, and other mechanical fastening systems, according to specifications and torque requirements.
• Install inserts such as helicoils or similar threaded inserts in structural components, ensuring proper fit and alignment.
• Perform in-process inspections using micrometers, calipers, pin gauges, and other precision hand tools to verify dimensions and tolerances, including working to precision tolerances of approximately ±0.001 inch and ±1 as specified.
• Carry out blending and deburring operations using appropriate hand and power tools to remove burrs, sharp edges, and surface imperfections from drilled or machined areas.
• Apply alodine, sealants, or other protective coatings to hardware after drilling, blending, or deburring to protect against corrosion and environmental damage.
• Follow aerospace assembly and structural bonding procedures, including bond prepping of surfaces and proper use of sealants and adhesives.
• Use torque wrenches and other torque tools to achieve and verify correct torque values on fasteners and structural joints.
• Work with aluminum and other aerospace materials, ensuring correct handling, preparation, and assembly techniques.
• Support mechanical assembly of mechanisms and structural subassemblies, ensuring proper function and alignment.
• Adhere to 5S practices by maintaining an organized, clean, and safe work area in the aerospace warehouse environment.
• Operate material handling equipment such as forklifts when required and when properly qualified, to move materials and hardware safely.
• Participate in technical discussions and demonstrate understanding of drilling processes, including explaining step‑by‑step how to drill specific hole sizes (for example, a half‑inch hole) using correct tools, speeds, feeds, and inspection steps.
• Follow all aerospace quality, safety, and process documentation requirements while meeting production and schedule expectations.

Essential Skills

• Hands‑on experience drilling precision holes in aerospace structural components and flight hardware.
• Proficiency with drilling equipment, including pneumatic drills and associated tooling, jigs, fixtures, and egg cups.
• Demonstrated ability to work with aluminum and other aerospace materials in structural applications.
• Experience using torque wrenches and torque tools to correctly torque fasteners and verify torque values.
• Knowledge of structural bonding processes, including structural adhesives and bond prepping of surfaces.
• Experience installing helicoils and other threaded inserts in structural components.
• Ability to work to tight precision tolerances, including approximately ±0.001 inch and specified tolerance levels such as ±1.
• Proficiency with hiloks, rivet installations, and other aerospace fastening systems.
• Mechanical assembly experience, including working with mechanisms and structural subassemblies.
• Skill in applying sealants and protective coatings such as alodine to aerospace hardware.
• Competence using precision measurement tools such as micrometers, calipers, and pin gauges for in‑process inspections.
• Ability to perform blending and deburring operations using hand and power tools while maintaining part integrity.
• Ability to explain drilling processes clearly, including how to drill a specified hole size step‑by‑step.

Work Environment

The role is based in an aerospace warehouse environment focused on the production and assembly of flight hardware and structural components. You work around drilling stations, structural assembly areas, and inspection stations that use pneumatic drills, torque wrenches, precision measuring tools such as micrometers, calipers, and pin gauges, and equipment for applying sealants and protective coatings like alodine. The setting involves handling aluminum and other aerospace materials, using hand and power tools for drilling, blending, and deburring, and working with mechanical fasteners and structural bonding systems. Material handling equipment, including forklifts, may be in use, and adherence to shop‑floor safety practices, organized work areas, and 5S standards is expected. The environment is typical of a production aerospace warehouse, with active shop‑floor operations and a focus on precision, cleanliness, and safety.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Long Beach, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $40.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Long Beach,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.