Fabrication Technician

Sesame; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) max employer match: 3.5%

100% employer-paid health benefits

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

An innovative tech company in San Francisco is seeking a Fabrication Technician to support hardware development. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of hands-on experience in mechanical fabrication and prototyping. Responsibilities include maintaining fabrication equipment, executing precision assembly tasks, and ensuring an organized lab. Benefits include employer-paid health coverage, unlimited PTO, and competitive stock options.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical fabrication or related role.
• Ability to commission and maintain fabrication equipment.
• Strong hand-tool proficiency and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Commission and maintain benchtop fabrication equipment.
• Fabricate mechanical parts to specifications using various methods.
• Maintain a clean and organized lab environment.

Skills

Mechanical fabrication

Prototyping

Precision assembly

Equipment maintenance

3D printing

CNC operation

Strong communication skills

Tools

3D printers

CNC mills

Laser cutters

Metrology tools

Job description

About Sesame

Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike - with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in ways that feel natural and human. With this vision, we're designing a new kind of computer, focused on making voice agents part of our daily lives. Our team brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise spanning hardware and software. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.

About the Role

Sesame AI is building a complex and compact wearable hardware + AI product requiring custom mechanical parts, enclosures, fixtures, and test rigs. We are looking for a highly organized, hands-on Fabrication Technician to support the hardware team with fabrication, precision assembly, equipment operations, and build logistics.

In this role you will commission, operate, and maintain benchtop fabrication equipment; produce prototype parts to tight tolerances; and keep the lab organized and ready for daily engineering use. You will work under the direction of the Prototyping Lead and alongside mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing engineers to turn CAD models and drawings into physical hardware - quickly, accurately, and repeatably.

Responsibilities

Equipment Commissioning & Maintenance

• Commission, set up, and bring online new fabrication equipment including 3D printers (FDM, SLA/DLP, SLS), desktop CNC mills, laser cutters, and other bench top tools.
• Own routine maintenance, calibration, and consumables management for all prototyping equipment; proactively prevent downtime.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues, coordinate service calls, and maintain maintenance logs.
• Evaluate and recommend new tools, materials, and processes to expand lab capability.

Fabrication & Precision Assembly

• Fabricate mechanical parts using additive, subtractive, and manual methods to meet drawing specifications and tolerances.
• Perform post-processing: support removal, sanding, bonding, tapping, heat-setting inserts, painting, and surface finishing.
• Execute precision hand assembly of compact electro-mechanical prototypes—including sub-cm enclosures, press fits, threaded fasteners, and delicate component integration.
• Build and maintain jigs, fixtures, and test rigs used in prototype assembly and validation.
• Read and interpret mechanical drawings, GD&T callouts, and 3D CAD models to execute fabrication tasks with minimal supervision.

Lab Operations & Organization

• Maintain a highly organized, clean, and safe lab environment; enforce 5S principles across workstations and storage.
• Manage lab inventory including materials, consumables, fasteners, adhesives, and tooling; reorder supplies before stockouts.
• Follow and improve build procedures; document builds with photos, measurements, and structured notes.
• Coordinate with vendors for outsourced parts: obtain quotes, track orders, inspect incoming parts for conformance.
• Support engineering testing by preparing samples, running measurements, and logging data.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical fabrication, prototyping, or a related role in consumer electronics, robotics, or hardware development.
• Demonstrated skill in commissioning and maintaining benchtop fabrication equipment (3D printers, CNC, laser cutters).
• Strong hand-tool proficiency and precision assembly skills, comfortable working with small parts, tight tolerances, and delicate components.
• Ability to read and work from mechanical drawings, GD&T callouts, and 3D models.
• Strong understanding of common engineering materials: plastics (ABS, PC, nylon), metals (aluminum, steel, brass), adhesives, and fasteners.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to a clean, well-maintained lab.
• Dependable, safety-conscious, and able to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent tasks.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• On-site role; this position requires daily hands-on presence in the lab.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience at a startup or early-stage hardware company.
• Familiarity with MCAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360) for viewing and measuring models.
• Experience with soft goods, textiles, or composite materials.
• Comfort with basic electrical assembly: connectors, cable harnesses, simple soldering.
• Exposure to metrology tools: calipers, micrometers, height gauges, optical comparators.

Sesame is committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome all qualified applicants, embracing diversity in race, gender, identity, orientation, ability, and more. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Full-time Employee Benefits:

• 401 (k) max employer match: 3.5% of compensation
• 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO and sick time
• Flexible spending account with employer matching up to $1,650/year (medical FSA)
• Guardian Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Opportunity to share in the company's success with competitive stock options

Benefits do not apply to contingent/contract workers.