Sheet Metal Mechanic - Aerospace

Aerotek; El Cajon (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Time Off / PTO

Job summary

Aerotek is seeking a Sheet Metal Mechanic for a weekend/second-shift role in El Cajon, CA. The position focuses on operating and setting up a range of sheet metal fabrication equipment to produce precision parts to tight tolerances.

Expect autonomous setup, inspection, and a strong emphasis on quality and safety. You will work with rollers, punch presses, press brakes and related machinery, reading drawings and verifying dimensions with precision tools.

Qualifications

• Hands-on sheet metal fabrication experience including bending, rolling and forming.
• Experience setting up and running listed equipment.
• Operate CNC press brakes and brake presses from major manufacturers.
• Use precision measurement tools to verify dimensions.
• Read engineering drawings to determine shear sizes and layouts.
• Work with tolerances down to 0.030 inches.
• Perform shearing, punching, forming and deburring.
• Set up and run equipment to form bellows and assemble parts.
• Check operations from material to final inspection for specs.
• Collaborate to develop guidelines and best practices for sheet metal assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Operate rollers and related equipment to perform sheet metal bending, rolling, planishing, roll forming, and bump forming to tight tolerances.
• Set up machines autonomously, including shear, CNC turret punch press, punch press, press brake, power shear, power roller, expander, and resistance seam welder.
• Fabricate sheet metal parts and assemblies to dimensional tolerances specified in engineering drawings.
• Use precision measurement tools such as calipers, combo squares, gauges, height gauges, pi tapes, and other instruments to verify dimensions and ensure quality.
• Figure shear sizes and flat pattern layouts from engineering drawings using height gauges and other precision instruments.
• Perform shearing, punching, forming, and deburring operations as required for each job.
• Set up and run equipment to form bellows and complete assembly tasks as needed.
• Check all operations from material gauge and type through shearing, punching, forming, and final inspection to ensure compliance with specifications.
• Work independently and collaboratively to develop guidelines and best practices for the production of sheet metal assemblies.
• Perform spot welding and roll welding operations as required by the job.
• Be willing to work at assigned jobs both within and outside the sheet metal department, supporting other tasks as needed.
• Handle repetitive production runs, producing batches of parts and adjusting setups 2-3 times per day or as production needs change.

Skills

Sheet metal fabrication

Machine setup

CNC press brakes

Precision measurement

Reading drawings

Tight tolerances

Shearing / punching / forming

Autonomous setup

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Tools

CNC turret punch press

Punch press

Press brake

Power shear

Power roller

Expander

Resistance seam welder

Durma

Wysong

Amada

Cincinnati

Job description

Sheet Metal Mechanic

$23-$35/hr - El Cajon, 92020

2nd shift Mon-Thurs 4pm-2:30am

wknd fri-sun 5am-5:30pm

Job Description

This weekend sheet metal mechanic role focuses on operating and setting up a variety of sheet metal fabrication equipment to produce precision parts to tight tolerances. You will work with rollers, press brakes, and other machinery to bend, roll, and form sheet metal components according to engineering drawings, using precision measurement tools to ensure consistent quality.

Responsibilities

• Operate rollers and related equipment to perform sheet metal bending, rolling, planishing, roll forming, and bump forming to tight tolerances (down to approximately 0.030 inches).


• Set up machines autonomously, including shear, CNC turret punch press, punch press, press brake, power shear, power roller, expander, and resistance seam welder.


• Fabricate sheet metal parts and assemblies to dimensional tolerances specified in engineering drawings.


• Use precision measurement tools such as calipers, combo squares, gauges, height gauges, pi tapes, and other instruments to verify dimensions and ensure quality.


• Figure shear sizes and flat pattern layouts from engineering drawings using height gauges and other precision instruments.


• Perform shearing, punching, forming, and deburring operations as required for each job.


• Set up and run equipment to form bellows and complete assembly tasks as needed.


• Check all operations from material gauge and type through shearing, punching, forming, and final inspection to ensure compliance with specifications.


• Work independently and collaboratively to develop guidelines and best practices for the production of sheet metal assemblies.


• Perform spot welding and roll welding operations as required by the job.


• Be willing to work at assigned jobs both within and outside the sheet metal department, supporting other tasks as needed.


• Handle repetitive production runs, producing batches of parts and adjusting setups 2-3 times per day or as production needs change.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience in sheet metal fabrication, including bending, rolling, and forming operations.


• Proficiency in setting up and running shear, CNC turret punch press, punch press, press brake, power shear, power roller, expander, and related equipment.


• Ability to operate and adjust CNC press brakes and brake presses from manufacturers such as Durma, Wysong, Amada, and Cincinnati or similar equipment.


• Strong skills in using precision measurement tools, including calipers, combo squares, gauges, height gauges, pi tapes, and other dimensional inspection tools.


• Ability to work to tight tolerances, including experience working with tolerances around 0.030 inches.


• Experience with shearing, punching, forming, and deburring sheet metal parts.


• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and convert them into accurate shear sizes and flat pattern layouts.


• Capability to work autonomously in machine setup and operation with minimal supervision.


• Attention to detail and commitment to checking all operations from material selection through final forming.


• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a production environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with planishing, roll forming, and bump forming processes.


• Familiarity with spot welding, roll welding, and resistance seam welding in a sheet metal environment.


• Background in forming bellows and assembling complex sheet metal components.


• Comfort working with CNC-controlled equipment and traditional mechanical presses.


• Ability to develop and refine production guidelines and processes for sheet metal assemblies.


• Flexibility to support tasks outside the core sheet metal department when needed.

Why Work Here?

You will join a production environment that recognizes the value of skilled trades and rewards precision, reliability, and craftsmanship. The weekend schedule is structured to provide full-time weekly compensation while concentrating hours into three days, offering more flexibility for personal time during the week. You will work with a variety of equipment and processes, providing ongoing opportunities to expand your technical expertise and contribute to continuous improvement in fabrication methods. The culture emphasizes teamwork, independence, and accountability, giving you the space to own your work while collaborating with others to meet production goals.

Work Environment

This role is based on a first-shift weekend schedule as well as a second-shift during the week. The environment is a manufacturing and fabrication setting where you will frequently work with equipment such as shears, CNC turret punch presses, punch presses, press brakes, power shears, power rollers, resistance seam welders, expanders, and related machinery. Work often involves repetitive production runs, typically producing batches of 20–30 pieces with about 2–3 different setups per day, though this can fluctuate based on demand. You will fabricate parts to precise dimensional tolerances from engineering drawings, handle various sheet metal gauges and types, and perform operations from shearing and punching to forming, assembling, and deburring. The role requires comfort in a hands-on industrial environment with standard safety practices and appropriate work attire suitable for a fabrication shop.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of El Cajon, CA 92020.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $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 El Cajon, CA 92020.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant 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 Detector

It 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.