Senior Technician, R&D/QA Engineering

Hydrogen Group; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Hydrogen Group supports a medical device R&D QA Engineering team through a Senior Technician role in Irvine. The position emphasizes hands-on mechanical laboratory testing, protocol execution, result analysis, and thorough documentation in a collaborative project setting.

The role requires strong mechanical aptitude, experience with testing methods, and the ability to work onsite in a controlled laboratory environment. Candidates with practical testing capability and teamwork will fit well.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree acceptable but not required; advanced education not mandatory.
• 1–5+ years hands-on testing experience; broader willingness to consider capable candidates.
• Strong hands-on mechanical aptitude and documentation discipline.
• Experience with laboratory testing, QA/QC, and related processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Engineers and Technicians to execute experiments and testing activities.
• Perform hands-on mechanical testing including tensile and leak testing.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot lab/test equipment; document results accurately.
• Review and transfer documentation to systems like ECRs, SOPs, drawings, and tooling docs.
• Utilize JDE, QMS, and PLM to update records and maintain traceability.
• Assist in developing training materials and identify process improvements.
• Potential to lead smaller workstreams related to validation and testing.
• Provide technical guidance to junior technicians as needed.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical testing

Tensile testing

Laboratory testing

Documentation

Data analysis

Communication

Team collaboration

MS Office

ERP/MRP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree acceptable but not required

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

JDE

QMS

PLM

Job description

Location: Irvine, CA (Onsite)
Schedule: Standard
Duration: 6-Month Contract (W2)
Pay Rate: $29.50 - $33.50/hr

Position Summary

Our client is a medical device manufacturer, and this six-month contract supports its R&D Tech QA Engineering team. The Senior Technician supports R&D and QA Engineering by setting up and executing feasibility studies, experiments, and tests; creating and following established protocols; collecting and analyzing results; making observations and recommendations; and developing documentation for Engineering review. The role operates a variety of laboratory and test equipment to assess product, component, and process performance and works closely with engineers and technicians in a highly collaborative project environment. The primary focus is hands-on mechanical laboratory testing and execution rather than a purely manufacturing or prototype-building role. Candidates may be placed across appropriate testing activities based on experience, demonstrated capability, and the needs of the project team.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Consult and collaborate with Engineers, Technicians, and Assemblers to execute experiments, testing activities, investigations, and/or production-related support work.
• Perform hands-on mechanical testing, including work such as tensile testing, leak testing, and other laboratory or design-verification-related test methods.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot laboratory, inspection, and mechanical test equipment; document results accurately and escape unexpected findings as appropriate.
• Review documentation and take appropriate action to ensure information is accurately catalogued and carried through equipment validation and qualification activities, including transfer to appropriate systems or records such as ECRs, SOPs, drawings, and tooling documentation for Engineering approval.
• Utilize applicable manufacturing and documentation systems (e.g., JDE, QMS, PLM) to update records and maintain accurate documentation.
• Support the development of training and documentation materials in collaboration with Engineering and identify opportunities for process, equipment, or workflow improvement.
• Apply practical knowledge of testing and manufacturing processes to recommend improvements, including basic equipment, tool, or fixture modifications for Engineering review.
• May lead or independently coordinate smaller workstreams related to equipment validation, equipment investigations, testing, product disposition support, and rework support.
• Provide coaching, guidance, or technical support to less-experienced technicians when appropriate.
• Work fully onsite in an R&D laboratory that supports R&D, ISO/lab, and design-verification-related testing activities; this is not a remote, hybrid, or cleanroom position.
• Perform hands-on laboratory, mechanical, and testing work throughout the scheduled workday, including repetitive push/pull activity on some testing equipment and applying approximately 5-25 pounds of force.

Education/Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• A bachelor's degree, including Mechanical Engineering, is acceptable but is not required. A master's degree is not required, and advanced education alone is not a substitute for hands-on technical capability.
• Experience level may range broadly from developing Technician-level candidates to more experienced Senior Technician candidates; approximately 1-5+ years may be considered depending on the depth and relevance of hands-on testing experience.
• Strong hands-on Technician-level candidates may be considered, even without a traditional senior-level profile, when their hands-on capability and team fit are strong.
• Practical capability, mechanical aptitude, reliability, communication, and collaboration are more important than a rigid years-of-experience threshold.
• A mechanical background is strongly preferred. Candidates whose experience is primarily chemical or biological without relevant mechanical testing experience are not the target profile.
• Laboratory testing, mechanical testing, medical device inspection, QA/QC, manufacturing test, or closely related technical experience is preferred.
• Manufacturing or prototype-building experience may be considered when paired with strong testing aptitude and the ability to learn quickly.

Knowledge/Skills

• Strong hands-on mechanical and technical aptitude and demonstrated experience with laboratory testing, inspection, or mechanical test execution; comfortable working directly with test equipment and physical components.
• Experience with tensile testing, leak testing, or comparable mechanical test methods is strongly preferred. Experience with product development, fixture development, or prototype building is a plus, but testing capability is the higher priority.
• Ability to interpret and follow test procedures, protocols, work instructions, and technical documentation.
• Ability to learn client-specific equipment, test methods, processes, and Environmental Health and Safety and Quality guidelines; candidates do not need to be fully plug-and-play on day one. The team is open to training a candidate with the right technical foundation, attitude, and learning agility.
• Basic understanding of medical device inspection, quality, laboratory testing, or design-verification concepts, and knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Documentation Practices, preferred.
• Strict attention to detail and commitment to accurate, traceable documentation required.
• Excellent computer skills, including MS Office Suite; ERP/MRP or similar systems experience preferred.
• Clear, professional communication and strong collaboration skills, with a positive working style and the ability to work effectively with engineers, technicians, and managers in a project team.
• Willingness to take technical direction and feedback, and ability to give feedback in a professional, direct, and tactful manner.
• Flexibility to support different types of laboratory and testing work, working with appropriate independence while staying responsive to project-team priorities.