Engineering Technician

KH Aerospace; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Technician to support the development, prototyping, assembly, testing, and production transition of our UAS. You will work with Engineering and Manufacturing to translate evolving designs into repeatable processes and may travel to suppliers and contract manufacturers to support launches.

The role emphasizes hands-on work, problem solving, and close collaboration across teams to ensure quality and manufacturability as we scale production.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical diploma or equivalent practical experience in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, electronics.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government SECRET security clearance.
• Hands-on experience with prototype, manufacturing, or aerospace environments.

Responsibilities

• Support prototyping, fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing of UAS hardware and related equipment.
• Perform mechanical and electrical assembly, bonding, wiring, integration, and other hands-on tasks to a high standard.
• Read engineering drawings, CAD docs, BOMs, and assembly procedures to guide work.
• Assist with development and first-build activities where designs may not be fully defined.
• Travel to supplier and contract manufacturing sites for launches, troubleshooting, and training.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Electrical assembly

Reading technical drawings

Troubleshooting

Travel readiness

Education

Associate degree or technical diploma

Tools

CAD

3D printers

CNC equipment

Soldering

Wiring harnesses

Job description

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA) is an aerospace company specializing in long-endurance unmanned aerial platforms for a wide variety of industries. KHA supports a number of customers to carry out missions involving aerial reconnaissance, survey, communication relay and communications provisioning. Endurance, enabled by effective design, is key to these applications and KHA aircraft utilize cutting-edge aircraft design together with on-board intelligence to deliver value for these customers.

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace is seeking a motivated and hands-on Engineering Technician to support the development, prototyping, assembly, testing, and production transition of our Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys practical engineering work and is comfortable operating in an environment where designs, processes, and work instructions may still be evolving. Unlike a traditional production technician role focused primarily on established build procedures, the Engineering Technician will work closely with Engineering and Manufacturing to interpret technical information, solve hands-on build challenges, support new product introductions, and help translate developing designs into repeatable manufacturing processes.

The successful candidate will support both internal production and the transfer of manufacturing capability to external manufacturing partners. This will include periodic travel to suppliers and contract manufacturing locations to support production launches, troubleshooting, training, and process implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the prototyping, fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing of UAS hardware and related equipment.
• Perform mechanical and electrical assembly, bonding, wiring, integration, and other hands-on technical tasks to a high standard.
• Work from engineering drawings, CAD-generated documentation, Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, assembly procedures, and other technical data.
• Support development and first-build activities where designs or manufacturing processes may not yet be fully defined.
• Exercise technical judgment and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve build, assembly, integration, and manufacturability issues.
• Identify and communicate design, manufacturing, assembly, or documentation issues to Engineering and Manufacturing.
• Provide practical feedback to improve product designs, manufacturability, assembly processes, and production documentation.
• Support the transition of new and revised designs from Engineering into repeatable production processes.

Manufacturing Development & NPI Support

• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities and implementation of new aircraft features, assemblies, and manufacturing processes.
• Assist with the development, fabrication, evaluation, and implementation of manufacturing aids, jigs, fixtures, and production tooling.
• Support development and refinement of manufacturing work instructions and assembly procedures based on hands-on build experience.
• Assist with troubleshooting and validation during initial production builds and process changes.
• Help establish repeatable build methods that can be transitioned to Manufacturing Technicians and external production partners.

Contract Manufacturing Support

• Support the transfer of KHA manufacturing processes, technical documentation, tooling, and build knowledge to contract manufacturing partners.
• Travel to supplier and contract manufacturing sites as required to assist with production launches, technical troubleshooting, process implementation, and training.
• Work collaboratively with external manufacturing personnel to resolve build issues and ensure manufacturing processes are executed in accordance with KHA technical requirements.
• Provide feedback to KHA Engineering and Manufacturing regarding issues identified during external production activities.
• Work closely with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, technicians, quality personnel, and other technical staff to support product development and production.
• Participate in design, build, and manufacturing reviews, contributing practical engineering and production insight.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to product quality, manufacturability, production efficiency, and technical documentation.
• Hands-on engineering or technical experience in a prototype, manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, electromechanical, or similar environment.
• Demonstrated mechanical and electrical aptitude with strong hands-on troubleshooting skills.
• Experience performing mechanical assembly, fabrication, integration, wiring, bonding, or similar technical work.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical documentation, work instructions, and assembly procedures.
• Ability to work effectively when technical information or manufacturing processes are still evolving and use sound judgment to resolve problems.
• Competent using hand tools, power tools, and common workshop equipment safely and effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of tasks, and drive problems through resolution.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work within a multidisciplinary engineering and manufacturing team.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25%, with the potential for more concentrated travel during manufacturing launches or major production transitions.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical diploma, apprenticeship, military technical training, or equivalent practical experience in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, mechanical systems, or a related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government SECRET security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting prototype builds, NPI, low-rate production, or transition from development into manufacturing.
• Experience with UAS, aerospace systems, robotics, autonomous systems, or other complex electromechanical products.
• Experience with electrical assembly, wiring harnesses, crimping, or soldering.
• Experience with composite materials, bonding, or lightweight aerospace structures.
• Experience operating or maintaining 3D printers, CNC equipment, or other prototyping/manufacturing equipment.
• Familiarity with CAD-generated documentation and Bills of Materials.
• Experience supporting suppliers or contract manufacturing partners.
• Model aircraft, RC aircraft, drone, robotics, or similar hands-on technical hobby experience.
• Military technical experience.

Personal Attributes

• Comfortable working through ambiguity and incomplete information.
• Technically curious and willing to learn new systems and processes.
• Self-motivated, dependable, and accountable.
• Takes ownership and follows tasks through completion.
• Adaptable to changing priorities and evolving technical requirements.
• Strong team player with a collaborative mindset.
• Willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions constructively, and contribute beyond narrowly defined responsibilities.

Who We Are

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace develops the world’s longest endurance fully electric Unmanned Aircraft System in our size and weight category. We solve large-scale worldwide problems by providing persistent overhead services to help our soldiers remain safe in theater, provide rapid emergency communications for disaster relief efforts, enable search-and-rescue services to assist emergency response efforts, help protect endangered species, and provide geospatial data to assist in slowing climate change.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge UAS technology.
• Collaborative and innovative engineering environment.
• Exposure to the full product development lifecycle.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

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