Composite Technician: Ground-Floor Aerospace Prototyping

AscendArc, Inc.; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 40,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

AscendArc, Inc. in Beaverton, Oregon seeks a hands-on Composite Technician to join our ground-floor manufacturing team. You will build prototype and production composite components, follow lay-up schedules, and verify geometry from CAD to hardware, while documenting processes.

The role suits motivated doers comfortable in a fast-paced startup, able to lift 25 lbs, adhere to strict quality standards, and contribute to rapid iteration as we fly confidential hardware.

Qualifications

• Entry level up to ~8 years of experience in composite manufacturing, lay-up, or structural fabrication for aerospace, marine, automotive or similar high‑performance environment.
• Familiarity (or willingness to learn quickly) with composite terminology and methods: pre‑preg/autoclave or vacuum bagged wet lay‑up, mold release agents, peel‑ply/breather, lay‑up schedule, cure cycle.
• Mechanical aptitude: comfortable with hand tools, shop environment, trimming/finishing composite parts,working to tight tolerances.
• Basic experience or interest in tooling, fixtures, jigs for composite manufacturing.
• Ability to read drawings, follow build instructions, and work with process documentation (BOMs, lay‑up sheets, work instructions).
• Attention to detail, particularly in composite builds: fiber orientation, void‑control, surface finish.
• Proactive with problem‑solving: see a potential build issue, flag it, iterate the process.
• Comfortable in a hardware‑centric, fast‑paced startup atmosphere where prototypes turn into test articles and flight hardware.
• Able to lift ~25lbs, stand for prolonged periods, work in shop/cleanroom environments.

Responsibilities

• Execute composite build workflows: mold prep, lay‑up (pre‑preg and/or wet), vacuum bagging, curing, trimming, sanding, and finishing.
• Fabricate prototype and production composite components: structural assemblies, panels, housings, mounting structures.
• Operate composite manufacturing equipment (ovens/autoclaves, vacuum systems, cutting/lay‑up tools) and hand‑tools.
• Work with CAD or drawings to verify lay‑up schedules, tooling and part geometry; collaborate with design/structural engineers to close the CAD‑to‑hardware loop.
• Support process documentation: Build Instructions, lay‑up records, cure cycles, inspection logs.
• Setup and maintain clean manufacturing environment, molds, tooling, jigs, fixtures for composites work.
• Inspect your work: ensure fiber orientation, resin distribution, vacuum integrity, cure quality meet specs. Flag non‑conformances, participate in root‑cause and correction.
• Iterate rapidly: prototypes move fast, so you must adapt builds, suggest tooling improvements, refine manufacturing steps for future builds.
• Cross‑skill: may assist in metallic machining/fabrication, assembly of hybrid metal–composite hardware if required.

Skills

Composite lay-up

Mold prep

Vacuum bagging

Autoclave processes

Reading drawings

Hand tools

Cure cycles

Mat'l handling

Tools

Ovens/Autoclaves

Vacuum systems

Hand tools

Measuring tools

Job description

AscendArc, Inc. in Beaverton, Oregon seeks a hands-on Composite Technician to join our ground-floor manufacturing team. You will build prototype and production composite components, follow lay-up schedules, and verify geometry from CAD to hardware, while documenting processes.

The role suits motivated doers comfortable in a fast-paced startup, able to lift 25 lbs, adhere to strict quality standards, and contribute to rapid iteration as we fly confidential hardware.