Cell Prototype Engineering Technician

ACTalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Cell Prototype Engineering Technician for our San Diego-based prototype and manufacturing environment. You will assemble mechanical and electromechanical components, operate production equipment, and perform in-process quality inspections to support battery cell prototype development.

You will document build data, assist engineering with troubleshooting, and work closely with cross-functional teams on evolving products, while adhering to SOPs, safety rules, and on-site lab

Qualifications

• At least 1 year hands-on experience building or assembling mechanical/electromechanical components.
• Experience in hands-on manufacturing or production following SOPs, work instructions and defined processes.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with handling physical components, tools and equipment.
• Ability to perform in-process inspections and escalate quality or process issues appropriately.
• Familiarity with measurement tools (micrometers, calipers, multimeters) or willingness to learn.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow detailed work instructions and SOPs.
• Basic computer skills to document production or technical data.
• On-site lab work and ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Assemble mechanical and electromechanical components according to SOPs and defined build processes.
• Operate production equipment and assist with equipment, fixture, and tooling setup and basic maintenance.
• Perform in-process quality inspections using measurement tools.
• Monitor prototype builds and escalate potential issues to the team.
• Assist engineering with troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for build/process issues.
• Document build information and inspection results in systems.
• Support material, component, consumable, and inventory tracking for prototype builds.
• Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional partners throughout build cycles.
• Follow safety requirements and procedures in manufacturing and laboratory environments.
• Adapt to evolving products and processes while maintaining high quality.

Skills

Hands-on assembly

SOPs & procedures

Mechanical aptitude

In-process inspection

Measurement tools

Detail oriented

Follow instructions

Basic computer skills

On-site lab work

Lift up to 25 lbs

Education

No degree required

Tools

SolidWorks

Calipers

Micrometers

Multimeters

Job description

Job Title: Cell Prototype Engineering TechnicianJob Description

The Cell Prototype Engineering Technician supports hands-on prototype assembly and build activities in a fast-paced engineering and manufacturing environment. This role focuses on assembling mechanical and electromechanical components, operating production equipment, performing in-process quality inspections, and collaborating closely with engineering teams to support advanced battery and cell prototype development.

Responsibilities

• Assemble mechanical and electromechanical components according to established work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and defined build processes.

• Operate production equipment and assist with equipment, fixture, and tooling setup, use, and basic maintenance activities as directed.

• Perform in-process quality inspections on components and assemblies, using measurement tools to verify that builds meet specified requirements.

• Monitor prototype builds for abnormalities and promptly escalation potential process, equipment, material, or quality issues to appropriate team members.

• Assist engineering teams with troubleshooting activities, including failure analysis and root-cause identification for build or process issues.

• Accurately document build information, inspection results, and production data in computer and database systems in a timely manner.

• Support material, component, consumable, and inventory tracking to ensure availability of items required for prototype builds.

• Collaborate closely with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional partners throughout prototype build cycles to ensure smooth execution of projects.

• Follow established safety requirements and procedures while working with production equipment and within controlled manufacturing and laboratory environments.

• Adapt to evolving products, processes, and work instructions in a dynamic prototype setting and maintain high quality standards during frequent changes.

Essential Skills

• At least 1 year of hands-on experience building, assembling, or working with mechanical or electromechanical components in a manufacturing, production, prototype, or similar technical environment.

• Experience working in a hands-on manufacturing or production setting and following established SOPs, work instructions, and defined processes.

• Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort working directly with physical components, tools, and equipment.

• Ability to perform in-process inspections, recognize abnormalities, and escalation quality or process issues appropriately.

• Experience or familiarity with measurement tools such as micrometers, calipers, multimeters, or similar instruments, or willingness to learn with provided training.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to recognize and communicate conditions that appear out of standard.

• Ability to follow detailed work instructions, SOPs, and established technical processes consistently.

• Basic computer skills with the ability to accurately enter and document production or technical data.

• Comfort working on-site in a lab and manufacturing environment, standing for extended periods, and lifting up to approximately 25 lbs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Mechanical, manufacturing process, and quality inspection experience, including hands-on work with mechanical or electromechanical components.

• Experience with lithium battery, battery manufacturing, or related technologies is a plus.

• Exposure to automotive, electronics, medical device, or prototype manufacturing environments is beneficial.

• Familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks is a plus but not required.

• Metrology experience or familiarity with measurement and characterization techniques is advantageous.

• Degree is not required; relevant hands-on technician, assembly, manufacturing, or production experience will be fully considered.

Work Environment

This role is 100% on-site in a hands-on prototype assembly, manufacturing, and laboratory environment in San Diego. The majority of the work involves supporting physical builds rather than desk-based engineering tasks. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday with an early-morning start around 6:00 AM and core coverage through approximately 3:00 PM, with occasional overtime and rare weekend support as needed. Work may be performed in controlled or dry-room environments and requires appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The position involves prolonged standing and the ability to lift up to approximately 25 lbs. The environment is fast-paced, with products, processes, and work instructions changing frequently, offering exposure to advanced battery and cell manufacturing technology, specialized equipment, and characterization techniques.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $27.18 - $45.33/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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

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.