Lead Engineering Technician

ACTalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

PTO / Sick Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Lead Engineering Technician in San Diego to lead day-to-day prototype assembly activities, directing technicians and ensuring adherence to build schedules and processes. This on-site role emphasizes hands-on leadership in a fast-paced engineering and manufacturing environment.

You will guide assembly teams, monitor quality and safety, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Materials, and other cross-functional groups to drive successful prototype builds and implement

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on manufacturing, production, prototype assembly, engineering operations, or similar technical experience.
• Previous lead experience in a hands-on technical/manufacturing environment.
• Experience assigning work, coaching/training technicians or operators, balancing workload, and helping maintain build schedules.
• Experience following standard work/work instructions, monitoring quality, identifying process issues, and escalating problems appropriately to Engineering or leadership.

Responsibilities

• Assign work, balance workload, and help maintain build schedules.
• Guide technicians on assembly processes, work instructions, quality requirements, safety, and problem-solving.
• Monitor build performance and communicate issues related to safety, quality, yield, output, and downtime.
• Ensure established work instructions and processes are followed and escape conditions that fall outside established standards.
• Support troubleshooting, failure analysis, and root-cause identification for assembly issues.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Materials, and other cross-functional teams to support prototype builds.
• Support implementation of engineering changes, new equipment, and updated work instructions.
• Maintain a strong presence in the build area and provide real-time direction and support to technicians.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing

Prototype assembly

Workload balancing

Quality control

Education

No degree required

Job description

Job Title: Lead Engineering TechnicianJob Description

Lead day-to-day prototype assembly activities within a fast-paced engineering and manufacturing environment. Provide hands-on leadership and daily direction to technicians supporting prototype builds.

Responsibilities

• Assign work, balance workload, and help maintain build schedules.

• Guide technicians on assembly processes, work instructions, quality requirements, safety, and problem-solving.

• Monitor build performance and communicate issues related to safety, quality, yield, output, and downtime.

• Ensure established work instructions and processes are followed and escape conditions that fall outside established standards.

• Support troubleshooting, failure analysis, and root-cause identification for assembly issues.

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Materials, and other cross-functional teams to support prototype builds.

• Support implementation of engineering changes, new equipment, and updated work instructions.

• Maintain a strong presence in the build area and provide real-time direction and support to technicians.

Essential Skills

• 2+ years of hands-on manufacturing, production, prototype assembly, engineering operations, or similar technical experience.

• Previous lead experience in a hands-on technical/manufacturing environment.

• Experience assigning work, coaching/training technicians or operators, balancing workload, and helping maintain build schedules.

• Experience following standard work/work instructions, monitoring quality, identifying process issues, and escalating problems appropriately to Engineering or leadership.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with 5S, 5-Why, Pareto, Lean, or root-cause analysis preferred.

• Battery/cell manufacturing experience is a strong plus but not required.

• Electronics, automotive, medical device, electromechanical, high-mix, or prototype manufacturing backgrounds are transferable.

• Degree is not required; equivalent hands-on technical and leadership experience will be considered.

Work Environment

100% on-site in San Diego, within a hands-on prototype assembly/manufacturing and lab environment. The majority of the position involves supporting physical builds rather than performing desk-based engineering work. Work is Monday-Friday with an early-morning start; current schedule begins around 6:00 AM with core coverage through approximately 3:00 PM. Occasional overtime and rare weekend support may be required. Work may be performed in controlled/dry-room environments and requires appropriate PPE. The position requires prolonged standing and the ability to lift up to approximately 25 lbs. The fast-paced prototype environment means that products, processes, and work instructions may change frequently.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $27.18 - $50.63/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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)

Job Type & Location

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

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 21, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.

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, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.