Powertrain Technician

Actalent; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and R

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick)

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Powertrain Technician for a hands-on role in Garden Grove, CA, focusing on prototype drive units and the full production process from concept to execution.

You will create and refine work instructions, set up workstations, train production associates, and drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people development. This is a contract-to-hire, fully onsite position with a competitive pay range.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with powertrain systems and drivetrain components.
• Familiarity with gear assembly processes and techniques.
• Experience working on electric vehicle (EV) powertrains.
• Knowledge of working with complex manufacturing equipment in prototyping or production.
• Proven ability to create and follow detailed instructions for complex assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Build prototype sample drive units and learn every element of the drive unit production process.
• Create, document, and refine work instructions and quality checkpoints for drive unit production.
• Train production associates on future prototype samples and production-level packs.
• Set up tiered boards to measure Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People Development metrics.
• Design and configure workstations, identifying and eliminating safety and ergonomic issues.
• Work closely with production and design teams to identify root causes of throughput and quality problems and implement solutions.
• Follow detailed instructions at each station to ensure high-quality builds.
• Collaborate in a team environment with a proactive, can-do attitude and contribute to team problem solving.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding proprietary processes and information.

Skills

Powertrain systems

Gear assembly

EV powertrains

Manufacturing equipment

Detail oriented

Time management

Team collaboration

Job description

Job DescriptionThe Powertrain Technician builds prototype drive units and supports the full drive unit production process from concept to execution. This role focuses on creating and refining work instructions, establishing quality standards, setting up workstations, and collaborating closely with production and design teams to resolve throughput and quality issues. The technician also trains production associates and helps drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people development.

Job DescriptionThe Powertrain Technician builds prototype drive units and supports the full drive unit production process from concept to execution. This role focuses on creating and refining work instructions, establishing quality standards, setting up workstations, and collaborating closely with production and design teams to resolve throughput and quality issues. The technician also trains production associates and helps drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people development. Responsibilities

• Build prototype sample drive units and learn every element of the drive unit production process.
• Create, document, and refine work instructions and quality checkpoints for drive unit production.
• Train the next wave of drive unit production associates on future prototype samples and production-level packs.
• Set up tiered boards to measure and track Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People Development metrics.
• Design and configure workstations, identifying and eliminating safety and ergonomic issues.
• Work closely with production and design teams to identify root causes of throughput and quality problems and implement effective solutions.
• Carefully follow detailed instructions at each station to ensure consistent, high-quality builds.
• Collaborate in a team environment with a proactive, can-do attitude and contribute to team-based problem solving.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding proprietary processes and information while building trust and credibility with colleagues.
• Manage time effectively to meet production targets and project deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with powertrain systems, including gear assembly and drivetrain components.
• Familiarity with gear assembly processes and techniques.
• Experience working on electric vehicle (EV) powertrains.
• Knowledge in working with complex manufacturing equipment in a production or prototyping environment.
• Proven experience creating and following detailed instructions to build complex assemblies with precision.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and act with integrity, establishing trust and credibility within the team.
• Strong attention to detail, with a resourceful and diligent approach to technical tasks.
• Effective time management and organizational skills to handle multiple tasks and priorities.
• Sound judgment and strong team-based problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment with a positive, can-do attitude.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience participating in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Comfort with documenting processes and updating work instructions as production requirements evolve.
• Ability to identify ergonomic and safety issues in workstations and propose practical improvements.
• Strong communication skills to train and coach production associates on new processes and standards.

Work EnvironmentThis role operates in a hands-on production and prototyping environment focused on electric vehicle drive units. You will work at manufacturing workstations and with complex equipment, assembling precision powertrain components and drive units. The environment emphasizes safety, quality, and continuous improvement, with structured metrics for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People Development. Work is highly collaborative, involving close interaction with production and design teams, and requires careful adherence to documented work instructions and quality checkpoints. Expect a detail-oriented atmosphere where confidentiality, integrity, and teamwork are highly valued. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Garden Grove, CA. Pay And BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $25.00 - $35.00/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) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Garden Grove, CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 6, 2026.

About ActalentActalent 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. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance OrdinancePursuant 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 DetectorIt 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.