R&D Prototype Engineer Technician

Actalent; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Employer-paid medical benefits

Job summary

Actalent in South San Francisco, CA is seeking an R&D Prototype Engineering Technician to support the assembly, integration, and testing of complex mechanical and vacuum-based subsystems for semiconductor capital equipment. You will collaborate with design engineers, develop fixtures, and drive iterative improvements through testing.

The role requires 5+ years of hands-on experience with precision assembly, HV/UHV systems, and strong troubleshooting skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on experience supporting development, build, integration, or testing of complex mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with precision component assembly and alignment.
• Experience with HV/UHV vacuum systems and related equipment.
• Independent troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, vacuum, and system-level issues.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, BOMs, and tolerances to support builds.
• Experience developing or using testing fixtures and instrumentation for validation.

Responsibilities

• Build, assemble, and integrate complex mechanical, electromechanical subsystems for advanced semiconductor equipment.
• Perform precision assembly and alignment of components with tight tolerances.
• Work with HV/UHV vacuum systems, pumps, valves, and gas delivery hardware.
• Support vacuum system assembly, leak checking, pump-down, and commissioning.
• Interpret drawings, CAD models, and BOMs to support prototype builds.
• Collaborate with design engineers to identify assembly challenges and propose improvements.
• Develop and utilize test fixtures, tooling, and instrumentation for validation and qualification.
• Execute test plans, collect data, and document results for iterations.
• Troubleshoot and perform root cause analysis on mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, vacuum, and automation issues.

Skills

5+ yrs exp

Mechanical assembly

HV/UHV vacuum systems

Troubleshooting

Reading drawings

Test fixtures

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Actalent in South San Francisco, CA is seeking an R&D Prototype Engineering Technician to support the assembly, integration, and testing of complex mechanical and vacuum-based subsystems for semiconductor capital equipment. You will collaborate with design engineers, develop fixtures, and drive iterative improvements through testing.

The role requires 5+ years of hands-on experience with precision assembly, HV/UHV systems, and strong troubleshooting skills.