Fabrication Technician

AstroForge Inc.; Seal Beach (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% health, dental and life insurance

Vision and FSA benefits

3 weeks PTO + 1 week sick time

10 paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Equity on the ground floor

Job summary

AstroForge Inc. is seeking a hands-on Fabrication Technician to join our fast-moving hardware team in Seal Beach, CA.

You will build, assemble, and test critical spacecraft components, working directly with engineers to turn evolving designs into finished hardware in a low-volume development environment. The role requires 4+ years fabricating aerospace parts or tooling and expertise in sheet metal, machining, and welding, with strong GD&T and drawing interpretation skills.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in aerospace fabrication of precision mechanical parts or tooling.
• 2+ years operating sheet metal equipment (press brakes, waterjets/lasers, shears, rollers).
• Hands-on machining, welding, and sheet metal fabrication with strength in at least one discipline.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, CAD models, GD&T, and fabrication instructions.
• Experience verifying work with calipers, micrometers, and inspection tools.
• Knowledge of aluminum, stainless steel, and aerospace materials; titanium/composites a plus.
• Ability to troubleshoot fabrication issues and communicate with engineers.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate and modify parts, subassemblies, tooling, and fixtures from drawings and CAD models.
• Perform machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication and finishing with shop equipment.
• Plan fabrication steps, clarify tolerances and material needs before starting.
• Carry out drilling, tapping, reaming, countersinking, deburring as required by drawings.
• Inspect dimensions and workmanship with precision tools; document results and flag out-of-tolerance items.
• Collaborate with engineers to improve manufacturability and implement design changes.
• Deliver completed parts to assembly/test teams and support fit checks and modifications.
• Maintain a safe, organized shop area and protect parts from damage and debris.

Skills

Fabrication

Machining

Welding

Sheet metal

GD&T

CAD drawings

Inspection tools

Aerospace materials

Tools

Press brakes

Waterjets/Lasers

Shears

Rollers

Calipers & micrometers

Job description

About the Company

At AstroForge, our mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth. We mine asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than current terrestrial mining methods. Along the way, we seek to leverage the technologies we build to provide additional value across other domains. We offer a unique opportunity to join an exciting team looking to expand humanity’s capabilities in space.

Job Description

AstroForge is excited to offer a hands-on opportunity for a detail-oriented Fabrication Technician to join our fast-moving hardware team. The selected candidate will be instrumental in building, assembling, and testing critical components that enable our spacecraft and payload systems. In our low-volume development environment, you will work directly with engineers to turn evolving designs into finished hardware. This role requires prior hands-on fabrication experience in aerospace or an aerospace-adjacent industry.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate and modify structural and mechanical parts, fabricated subassemblies, tooling, and test fixtures from engineering drawings, CAD models, and approved work instructions.
• Perform machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, and finishing using appropriate shop equipment, including mills, lathes, welders, grinders, and sheet metal tools.
• Prepare material, plan fabrication steps, and establish tooling and setups; clarify dimensions, tolerances, and material requirements before starting work.
• Perform drilling, tapping, reaming, countersinking, deburring, and other finishing operations as required by the drawing and process.
• Inspect dimensions, geometry, and workmanship throughout fabrication using precision measurement tools; document results and flag out-of-tolerance conditions.
• Work with engineers to improve manufacturability and tooling. Confirm drawing revisions and implement approved design changes or rework while maintaining part identification and fabrication records.
• Deliver completed parts and fixtures to the assembly and test teams, support fit checks, and make engineering-approved modifications.
• Maintain shop equipment, tools, and a safe, organized work area; protect materials and finished hardware from damage, contamination, and foreign object debris (FOD).

Requirements

• 4+ years of hands-on experience fabricating precision mechanical parts or tooling in aerospace or an aerospace-adjacent industry.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience setting up and operating precision sheet metal equipment (press brakes, waterjets/lasers, shears, and rollers) with an understanding of bend deductions and flat pattern layouts.
• Practical working skills in machining, welding, and sheet metal fabrication, with demonstrated strength in at least one discipline and the ability to work across the others.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and blueprints, CAD models, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and fabrication instructions.
• Experience verifying your own work with calipers, micrometers, and other suitable inspection tools.
• Knowledge of fabrication and handling practices for aluminum, stainless steel, and other aerospace materials. Experience with titanium or composite hardware is a plus.
• Ability to troubleshoot fabrication problems, communicate clearly with engineers, and adapt to design revisions while maintaining accurate records, workmanship, and safety.
• Ability to complete assigned work independently and seek engineering input when requirements or proposed changes are unclear.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical, dental, and life insurance coverage
• Vision and FSA benefits available
• 3 weeks of PTO + 1 week of sick time
• 10 paid Holidays
• Retirement savings plan - 401(k), with company match
• Equity on the ground floor of a startup

Salary

$35-45 per hour

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.