Shop Apprentice

Terranova; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 41,328; Full time

Job summary

Terranova in Berkeley, CA is hiring a full-time Shop Apprentice to help build our robotic systems. You’ll cut, fabricate, and assemble full systems, working closely with engineers and fabricators to bring new designs to life and keep production moving.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys learning, can work quickly and accurately in a fast-paced environment, and is excited by startup-style projects that require creative problem-solving and hands-on fabrication.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with basic tools and shop safety.
• U.S. work authorization.
• Experience with steel fabrication.
• Ability to read CAD or mechanical drawings.
• Basic machining or assembly experience.
• Welding (MIG/TIG/Laser).
• Electronics/wiring experience.
• Plumbing experience.

Responsibilities

• You’ll help build our robotic systems—cutting, fabricating, and assembling full systems.
• The job focuses on speed, accuracy, and clean execution.
• You’ll work with engineers and fabricators to bring designs to life, iterate quickly, and keep production moving.
• As a startup, expect unique projects that require learning new skills and creative problem-solving.

Skills

Fast-paced environment

U.S. work authorization

Read CAD or mechanical drawings

Basic machining or assembly

Welding (MIG/TIG/Laser)

Electronics/wiring experience

Plumbing experience

Tools

Bandsaw

Angle grinder

Rigging

Drill press

Forklift experience

Job description

Company Description

Backed by leading climate and American dynamism investors, Terranova builds intelligent robotic systems to terraform the Earth itself - lifting land, restoring wetlands, and protecting critical infrastructure from floods and sea-level rise.

Our mission is to preserve the built environment, create new habitats, and usher in an era of abundance. Our work supports climate resilience, disaster recovery, and defense across the United States and beyond.

We’re assembling a world-class team that wants to work on something real, physical, and civilization-scale. If you want your work to reshape the world (literally), this is the place to do it.

What to to Expect

We’re hiring a full-time Shop Apprentice to join us on-site in Berkeley, CA. You’ll help build our robotic systems —cutting, fabricating, and assembling full systems. The job is all about speed, accuracy, and clean execution. You’ll work with our engineers and fabricators to bring new designs to life, iterate quickly, and keep production moving.

We're looking for someone with a drive to learn and build things. This job isn't like a typical worksite/machine shop - as a startup we have a lot of unique projects and every day will be a new challenge that require learning new skills/getting creative - if that excites you, this is the right place for you.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with basic tools (bandsaw, angle grinder, rigging, drill press)
• Forklift experience
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced build environment
• U.S. work authorization
• Nice to Have Qualifications
• Experience with steel fabrication
• Ability to read CAD or mechanical drawings
• Basic machining or assembly experience
• Welding (MIG/TIG/Laser)
• Electronics/wiring experience
• Plumbing experience

Compensation

$25-30 per hour, depending on experience