Engineering Technician

Actalent; California (MO); On-site; USD 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Engineering Technician in San Clemente, CA to collaborate with engineering, manufacturing and program teams on composite and metallic aerospace products. You will support process development, fabrication, assembly, testing and continuous improvement across aerospace programs.

You should bring 5+ years in aerospace manufacturing, strong ability to read drawings, and hands-on experience with composites, drilling, bonding and aerospace hardware installation.

Qualifications

• Five+ years in aerospace/manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and travelers.
• Experience with prepregs, core materials, bonded structures.
• Experience with drilling, trimming, and aerospace fastener installation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine manufacturing processes for composite layup, drilling, trimming, finishing, and assembly.
• Support prototype and low-rate production programs.
• Verify new processes and provide improvement recommendations.
• Assist with tooling development and shop floor scheduling.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, NADCAP and internal quality requirements.

Skills

composite assembly

engineering documentation

aerospace

drilling

troubleshooting

assembly operations

Tools

FARO Arm

CMM operation

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Description

The Engineering Technician will work alongside engineering, manufacturing engineering, operations, and program teams to build, assemble, troubleshoot, and integrate composite and metallic aerospace products. This individual will support manufacturing process development, composite fabrication, assembly operations, repairs, testing activities, and continuous improvement efforts across aerospace and unmanned systems programs. DUTIES: Develop and refine manufacturing processes for composite layup, drilling, trimming, finishing, and assembly operations. Support prototype and low-rate production programs. Assist with manufacturing tooling and production aid development. Verify new manufacturing processes and provide process improvement recommendations. Interpret engineering drawings, work instructions, travelers, and manufacturing documentation. Perform composite bonding, assembly, repair, and integration activities. Conduct drilling, trimming, and aerospace fastener installation. Support autoclave operations and composite manufacturing processes. Assist with hydraulic proof testing and environmental testing activities. Support shop floor scheduling and production activities. Ensure compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, and internal quality requirements. Maintain clean and organized manufacturing work areas.

Skills

composite assembly, engineering documentation, aerospace, engineering, composite, bill of material, troubleshooting, r&d, mechanical, aerospace defense, aerospace assembly, aerospace structural, aerospace mechanical, aerospace aircraft, composite manufacturing, composite fabrication, composite engineering, r&d lab, blueprint reading, defense aerospace, defense industry, spaceflight hardware

Top Skills Details

composite assembly,engineering documentation,aerospace

Additional Skills & Qualifications

Must-Have Qualifications 5+ years of experience in an aerospace, aviation, defense, motorsports, automotive, marine, or similar manufacturing environment. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, travelers, specifications, and work instructions. Experience working with composite materials including prepreg, wet layup, core materials, and bonded structures. Experience performing drilling, trimming, assembly, and aerospace hardware installation Experience with aerospace adhesives, bonding, liquid shimming, and assembly processes. Strong mechanical aptitude and hands‑on assembly experience. PREFERRED Qualifications Experience supporting new product introduction, prototype, or LRIP manufacturing programs. Aerospace composite manufacturing or aerostructures experience. Metrology experience, Laser Tracker experience, FARO Arm experience, CMM operation experience.

Experience Level

Intermediate Level

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $47.00/hr.

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 San Clemente,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 24, 2026.

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,