Mechanical Technician

Outpostspace; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 41,328 - 61,992; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Overtime eligible

Annual bonuses

Equity

Healthcare coverage

Disability & life insurance

PTO + holidays

401(k) match

Lunch stipend

Snacks & drinks

Pet-friendly office

Happy hours & events

Job summary

Outpostspace in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Mechanical Technician to build and integrate the structures and mechanisms for our return vehicles. This hands-on role works on the shop floor from engineering drawings and work instructions to help ensure hardware is built right the first time.

You will collaborate with mechanical engineers and the integration and test team, follow detailed procedures, support fit checks, torque and fastener installation, and maintain clean, safe work areas.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; trade/technical certification preferred.
• 5+ years in hands-on mechanical assembly or fabrication.
• Experience reading engineering drawings and GD&T per work instructions.
• Experience with hand tools, torque tools and precision measurement equipment.
• Familiarity with composites, machining, or structural assembly.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to safety.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, integrate, and inspect mechanical structures for the return vehicle.
• Follow drawings and work instructions to build flight hardware.
• Support fit checks, torque, and fastener installation to spec.
• Assist with vehicle-level integration and testing setup/teardown.
• Maintain clean, safe work areas; document work and flag discrepancies.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical assembly

Reading engineering drawings

GD&T

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's degree or technical certification in mechanical/manufacturing

Tools

Hand tools

Torque tools

Precision measurement equipment

Job description

Mechanical Technician

Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)

The return lane isn't going to build itself. Come build it with us.

Outpost is an orbital logistics company rewriting the rules of global logistics by building reusable Earth-return vehicles that unlock in-space manufacturing, on-orbit warehousing, and 60-minute global delivery through space.

Our CarryAll vehicle family returns payloads ranging from 200 kilograms to 10 metric tons, lands within 10 meters of its target, and can then be refurbished and launched again. One vehicle, many missions: responsive logistics and precision delivery for national security; commercial cargo moved with real cadence; R&D payloads flown, tested, and refined across repeatable cycles; and critical aid delivered where roads and runways can't reach.

The demand is already here, validated through defense and civil agreements and supported by a growing pipeline of government and commercial customers.

We have the customers, the team, and a clear technical path ahead of us. We're building the return lane. Come build it with us.

The Team

We're looking for a Mechanical Technician to build and integrate the structures and mechanisms that make up Outpost's return vehicles. This is a hands-on role on the machine shop floor, working from engineering drawings and work instructions to build flight hardware. You'll work closely with mechanical engineers and the integration and test team, and your work will directly determine whether hardware is built right the first time.

Responsibilities:

• Assemble, integrate, and inspect mechanical structures and mechanisms for the return vehicle
• Follow detailed work instructions and engineering drawings to build flight hardware
• Support fit checks, torque, and fastener installation to spec
• Assist with vehicle-level integration, including structural and mechanism installs
• Support test campaigns, including setup and teardown of test hardware
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas
• Document work performed and flag discrepancies to engineering

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required, associate's degree or technical certification in mechanical or manufacturing preferred
• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical assembly, fabrication, or technician experience, ideally in aerospace or a similarly high-precision environment
• Proficiency reading engineering drawings, GD&T, and assembly work instructions
• Experience with hand tools, torque tools, and precision measurement equipment
• Familiarity with composites, machining, or structural assembly
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality and safety standards
• Ability to work on your feet in a factory/lab environment

Preferred Experience

• Experience with composite layup, bonding, or precision machining
• Background in aerospace, automotive, or other precision manufacturing
• Experience with clean room or ESD-sensitive procedures

Compensation:

• Competitive compensation: $30-$45 hourly salary (non-exempt, overtime eligible), based on experience
• Additional Compensation:Annual performance-based bonuses that reward your impact.
• Shared upside: Meaningful equity in Outpost so you share directly in the value you help create.
• Comprehensive healthcare:Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your loved ones covered. We cover the base tier of medical insurance and all premiums of vision and dental.
• Protection when it matters:Company-provided short-and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind, plus life insurance for even more security.
• PTO: Recharge on your own terms with paid time off, plus 9 days of paid holidays.
• Invest in your future:401(k) with company match to help you build long-term wealth.
• Fueled for the mission:Daily DoorDash lunch stipend, plus unlimited snacks, coffee, and tea to keep you energized.
• Mission that matters: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders from aerospace, new space, and deep-tech industries building the future of orbital infrastructure.
• Pet Friendly Office:Bring your furry friend into the office so that they can be a part of our mission too.
• Monthly Company Happy Hours and Events:Drinks at the local bar, hibachi nights, mini golfing and more!

You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S.