R&D Fabricator

Santa Cruz Bicycles, LLC; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages available

Job summary

Santa Cruz Bicycles, LLC is seeking an experienced R&D Fabricator to bridge digital designs with physical prototypes at our Santa Cruz, CA factory. You will fabricate prototype frames, design fixtures, and build lab equipment using Creo, contributing to next-generation mountain bikes.

The role requires 8+ years of fabrication experience, TIG welding, and CNC/CAD proficiency, with relocation assistance available. On-site position in Santa Cruz, California, no remote work.

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience as a fabricator.
• Experience with TIG welding (aluminum & steel).
• Experience using a manual mill and lathe.
• Experience fabricating/welding full suspension bicycle frames and parts preferred.
• Experience designing fixtures.
• Expert manual machinist; CNC experience a plus.
• Experience creating detailed CAD drawings and assemblies (Creo preferred).
• Carbon/aluminum bonding experience preferred.
• Knowledge of 6000 series aluminum heat treatment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate full-suspension bicycle frames with high accuracy and efficiency.
• Measure and record alignment and tolerances.
• Design and fabricate new fixtures and equipment for prototype frames.
• Use Creo to design and build parts, fixtures, and lab equipment.
• Collaborate with Production Engineering to support bike assembly in Santa Cruz.
• Perform manual machining as needed.
• Maintain a clean, precise workshop and tool maintenance.

Skills

Fabrication

TIG Welding

Manual Mill

Manual Lathe

Fixture Design

CAD (Creo)

Engineering Drawings

Carbon/Aluminum Bonding

Project Status Updates

Tools

Creo

CAD

Job description

ABOUT US:

Our mission at Santa Cruz Bicycles is to make the best bicycles and to have fun doing it. Since 1994, we've been doing just that, and finding unique and innovative solutions for everything from suspension design to manufacturing processes along the way. We are a global organization and one of many premium brands in the Pon Bike portfolio, the largest bike company in the world. We are humble but proud of our heritage, built on our commitment to quality products and our most valued asset, talented people who are invited to be themselves and enhance our distinctive and evolving workplace culture.

ABOUT YOU: As our R&D Fabricator, you aren't just following a blueprint; you are the bridge between a digital design and a physical ride. Reporting to the R&D Lab Manager, you will support the Engineering Department by fabricating the prototype frames and custom fixtures that define the next generation of mountain biking. You will support the Engineering Department by fabricating prototype bicycle frames, designing and building fixtures and equipment for the Engineering Test Lab and work in the Santa Cruz Factory location in Santa Cruz, California. This role requires you to report to the Santa Cruz Bicycles factory location in Santa Cruz, California. There is no remote working option for this role. Relocation packages are available.

WHAT DOES YOUR DAY JOB LOOK LIKE:

• Fabricate full-suspension bicycle frames with elite accuracy and efficiency
• Measure and record alignment and point-to-point tolerances to ensure every prototype meets our standards
• Design and fabricate new fixtures and equipment to improve the quality of our prototype frames
• Use Creo to design and build the parts, fixtures, and test lab equipment
• Work with our Production Engineering team to design and build new fixtures to level up and support our bike assembly factory in Santa Cruz
• Perform manual machining as needed
• Keep the shop running like a precision machine - servicing mills, replacing worn tools, and maintaining a clean, professional workspace

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE:

• 8+ years working as a fabricator
• Experience with TIG welding (aluminum and steel)
• In depth experience using a manual mill and lathe
• Experience in accurately fabricating/welding full suspension bicycle frames and other parts is preferred
• Experience designing and fabricating fixtures
• Expert manual machinist, using mill and lathe, CNC experience is a plus
• Experience creating fully detailed parts and assemblies in CAD (Creo preferred), including properly dimensioned engineering drawings, is a plus
• Experience with carbon and aluminum bonding is preferred
• Working knowledge of 6000 series aluminum heat treatment protocol is preferred
• Ability to pivot quickly when priorities shift and provide clear, professional updates to the team on project status
• You enjoy working with designers and engineers and view constructive feedback as a tool to build a better bike

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend and explain documents in English. Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, in English.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS FOR THE ROLE:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the overall duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the overall duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use of hands and fingers, handle, or feel, reach above head with hands and arms, lift, push, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl, pull, talk and hear. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision may be corrected within normal range. The noise level in the work environment is quiet.

SALARY RANGE:

This compensation package will be dependent on experience, qualifications, industry experience and the interview with a potential range of up to $35 - $45 per hour.

Our mission at Santa Cruz Bicycles is to make the best bicycles and to have fun doing it. For over 25 years, we've been doing just that, and finding unique and innovative solutions for everything from suspension design to manufacturing processes along the way. We offer a relaxed working environment, local singletrack, and the opportunity to work with a group of bike enthusiasts. But what we really want is what you have to offer us. We want to attract job seekers that are looking for a brand that they can be an integral part, and not just "a company to work for". It's the individual personalities, and the raw enthusiasm for the brand that makes this place special, and that comes directly from the employees of Santa Cruz Bicycles.