Manufacturing Test Technician

Kelly Services; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement savings plan

Service bonus

Holiday pay

Transit spending account

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Kelly Services is seeking a Manufacturing Test Technician in San Jose, CA to assemble, align, test, and calibrate optical instruments including flow cytometers. You will maintain equipment and prepare units for production readiness.

Responsibilities include optical subassembly work, laser alignment, system testing, data recording, and supporting continuous-improvement initiatives. A high school diploma or GED is required, with 5+ years of related experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required; a Bachelor’s degree is not required.
• 5+ years of relevant manufacturing, test, or laboratory experience.
• Proficiency with oscilloscopes, frequency counters, logic analyzers, and DVMs.
• Experience with lasers, optical equipment, and optical alignment.
• Experience assembling, testing, or supporting flow cytometers.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and microcontroller development environments.
• Independent work with minimal supervision and strong collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and align optical subassemblies used in precision instruments.
• Assemble, set up, and calibrate optically based instruments including flow cytometers.
• Perform system-level testing and finalize units for Quality Control.
• Work with lasers and perform laser alignment.
• Handle samples and test flow cytometers as part of workflows.
• Maintain test areas and equipment; document results meticulously.
• Support lean-manufacturing and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Complete other assigned tasks to support manufacturing operations.

Skills

Optics & lasers

Flow cytometry

Instrument alignment

Troubleshooting

Technical documentation

Independent work

Team collaboration

Reading technical drawings

Microsoft Office

Microcontroller development

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Frequency counters

Logic analyzers

Digital voltmeters (DVMs)

Job description

Manufacturing Test Technician | San Jose, CA

Join a manufacturing team supporting precision electro-optical devices used in cell-sorting and single-cell medical analysis systems. In this hands-on role, you will assemble, align, test, and calibrate optically based instruments—including flow cytometers—while maintaining equipment, documentation, and production readiness.

Work Location & Details

• Location: San Jose, CA
• Pay Rate: $30.00–$33.00/hr, depending on experience
• Contract Length: 6 months, with potential to extend or convert
• Schedule: Flexible workforce; start times may range from 4:30 AM to 7:00 AM
• Overtime: Occasional overtime, potentially including weekends
• Schedule Requirement: Must be consistent with assigned start time; for example, if starting at 6:00 AM, reliable daily attendance is expected
• Visa Sponsorship: Not available
• Relocation Assistance: Not available

The Role: What You’ll Do

• Optical Assembly & Alignment: Assemble and align optical subassemblies used in precision electro-optical instruments.
• Instrument Build & Calibration: Assemble, set up, and calibrate optically based instruments, including flow cytometers.
• System Testing: Perform system-level testing and complete final testing before units move to final Quality Control.
• Laser Work: Work with lasers and perform laser alignment; this is a major component of the role.
• Flow Cytometry Support: Assemble and test flow cytometers used for cell sorting and single-cell medical analysis.
• Sample Handling: Pipette samples into sample cartridges as part of testing and processing workflows.
• Equipment Maintenance: Maintain work areas and equipment used to set up and calibrate instruments.
• Troubleshooting: Follow step-by-step work instructions while independently identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving issues not explicitly covered in procedures.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate test, calibration, and equipment records.
• Continuous Improvement: Support lean-manufacturing and continuous-improvement initiatives, collaborate effectively, and contribute practical solutions to production challenges.
• Additional Support: Complete other assigned tasks supporting manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required; a Bachelor’s degree is not required.
• Experience: 5+ years of relevant manufacturing, test, or laboratory experience is acceptable in lieu of a degree.
• Electronic Instrumentation: Proficiency using oscilloscopes, frequency counters, logic analyzers, and digital voltmeters (DVMs).
• Optics & Lasers: Experience with lasers, optical equipment, and optical alignment strongly preferred.
• Flow Cytometry: Experience assembling, testing, or supporting flow cytometers is highly preferred.
• Optical Knowledge: Working knowledge of optical concepts such as spectral emission and wavelength preferred.
• Technical Drawings: Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
• Software: Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and microcontroller development environments.
• Independence: Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Collaboration: Works well in a team environment and contributes to continuous-improvement efforts.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to think outside the box when resolving technical issues.

Candidates with experience in flow cytometry, laser alignment, protein analyzers, blotting systems, cell-sorting instruments, or single-cell analysis devices are especially encouraged to apply.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources.

Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type.

K Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability.

As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Why Kelly ® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.