Senior Mechanical Technician

Edison Smart®; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Edison Smart in Pleasanton, CA, is seeking a Senior Mechanical Technician to join our growing engineering team. You will work hands-on across machining, fabrication, assembly and hardware testing to take components from drawings to qualified hardware.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in demanding hardware environments, strong machining skills, and experience with drawings, GD&T and environmental testing. This is a full-time on-site role requiring US Person status under ITAR/EAR.

Qualifications

• 10+ years hands-on mechanical, manufacturing or test technician experience.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, space or similarly demanding hardware environments.
• Strong manual machining experience, particularly milling and turning.
• Proven mechanical assembly and fabrication skills.
• Experience reading engineering drawings and GD&T, using precision measurement equipment.
• Familiarity with environmental testing, ideally vibration, shock and thermal qualification.
• Exposure to AS9100 or comparable aerospace/defense quality systems.
• Hands-on R&D environment with ownership and collaboration with engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Operate manual mills and lathes to machine components, fixtures and tooling, and perform fast-turn modifications.
• Build and assemble mechanical enclosures, chassis, mechanisms and integrated electromechanical assemblies.
• Work with precision fasteners, torque specs, O-rings, gaskets, adhesives and environmental sealing techniques.
• Prepare and instrument hardware for environmental qualification testing (vibration, shock, thermal, rain, dust, salt-fog).
• Support test execution, inspections and hardware teardowns, feeding improvements back to engineering.
• Interpret drawings and GD&T, carry out precision measurements and maintain build/inspection records.
• Help establish repeatable assembly processes, workshop standards, and quality practices.

Skills

Hands-on machining

Mechanical assembly

GD&T reading

Precision measurement

Environmental testing

Aerospace/defense experience

R&D collaboration

CNC programming

Tools

SolidWorks

3D printing

Welding

CNC setup/programming

Job description

We're working with an innovative hardware technology company developing advanced defense systems, and we're looking to appoint a Senior Mechanical Technician at its Pleasanton facility.

This is an opportunity to join a growing engineering team working on complex, high-performance hardware where mechanical craftsmanship, precision manufacturing and reliability are fundamental to the end product.

The role will suit an experienced, hands‑on technician who enjoys working across machining, fabrication, mechanical assembly and hardware testing, taking components from engineering drawings through to fully assembled and qualified hardware.

What you'll be doing:

• Operate manual mills and lathes to machine components, produce fixtures and tooling, and carry out fast‑turn modifications.
• Build and assemble mechanical enclosures, chassis, mechanisms and integrated electromechanical assemblies.
• Work with precision fasteners, torque specifications, O-rings, gaskets, adhesives and environmental sealing techniques.
• Prepare and instrument hardware for environmental qualification testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, rain, dust and salt-fog testing.
• Support test execution, inspections and hardware teardowns, identifying issues and feeding practical improvements back to engineering.
• Interpret engineering drawings and GD&T, carry out precision measurements and maintain accurate build and inspection documentation.
• Help establish repeatable assembly processes, workshop standards and quality practices.

Ideal Experience:

• 10+ years of hands‑on mechanical, manufacturing or test technician experience.
• Background in aerospace, defense, space or similarly demanding hardware environments.
• Strong manual machining experience, particularly milling and turning.
• Proven mechanical assembly and fabrication skills.
• Experience reading engineering drawings and GD&T, using precision measurement equipment.
• Familiarity with environmental testing, ideally vibration, shock and thermal qualification.
• Exposure to AS9100 or comparable aerospace/defense quality systems.
• Someone comfortable working in a hands‑on R&D environment, taking ownership and working closely with engineering teams.

Additional experience with CNC setup/programming, SolidWorks, 3D printing, welding or an active security clearance would be beneficial.

This is a full‑time, on‑site position in Pleasanton, California. Candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR requirements.