Hardware Technician

Location San Francisco Employment Type Full time Location Type On-site Department Technicians Who We Are: Aurelius Systems is a VC backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge-deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. We build laser weapons to shoot down drones. We're a small team of ~10 engineers, former US military operators, and subject matter experts scaling America's directed energy dominance. The first cost effective, reliable and robust laser weapon system. Our namesake isn't an accident. Marcus Aurelius wrote about doing the work in front of you, every day, without excuses. Henry Ford didn't wait for permission to reinvent manufacturing. That's how we operate - small team, unreasonable output, no hiding behind the unachievable. In addition to our San Francisco lab, we opened our Detroit manufacturing hub and field test weekly on our own 400 acre private range. If you are the kind of technician who'd rather see your work on a range than in a lab, read on. The Role and Your Impact: We need a Hardware Technician who can take drawings, schematics, and half formed concepts and turn them into real, working hardware and fast. You won't be waiting for perfect documentation. You'll be the person who figures it out, builds it, breaks it, fixes it, and documents what you learned so the next build goes faster. This role directly determines how quickly ideas become working systems. Speed wins here and you are the multiplier. What You'll Own: Assemble, wire, and integrate electromechanical systems and prototypes against rapid design cycles for mostly bespoke hardware Build and rework mechanical assemblies, wiring harnesses and cable assemblies, and test rigs and fixtures Support rapid iteration by modifying designs when problems arrive, proposing assembly methods, implementing engineering change requests, and troubleshooting physical issues Operate and maintain lab equipment, tools, and prototyping infrastructure Assist engineers during bring up, debugging, and field testing on our range Document builds, revisions, and lessons learned in a clear and repeatable way Keep the lab clean, organized, and safe What We're Looking For: 2+ years of hands on hardware technician, lab technician, or similar experience Strong practical skills with hand tools, power tools, torque tools, crimping, soldering, and cable routing Ability to read and work from mechanical drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, and assembly instructions High mechanical intuition and attention to detail Comfortable in a fast moving R&D environment where designs change constantly and documentation is often incomplete Where you probably come from: aerospace assembly, defense hardware, robotics labs, EV or automotive shops, machine shops, or any environment where you were building real things with your hands every day. We want to talk if: You've built complex electromechanical systems from scratch, you're the person engineers call when something won't fit or won't work, and you take pride in a clean build as much as a fast one. Not a fit if: You're only comfortable with fully documented, production ready assemblies, or you haven't worked hands on with both mechanical and electrical hardware. Nice to Haves: Experience with precision assemblies, optics, robotics, or aerospace hardware CNC, 3D printing, and machining experience Familiarity with embedded systems or electronics debugging Background in builder hobbies like electronics tinkering, automotive garage work, smart home, anything where you've built something real on your own time Education: No degree required. What you've built matters more than where you went to school. How You Operate: Extreme bias for action - you'd rather build a prototype tomorrow than wait for perfect drawings You debug from first principles and physical intuition, not just a manual Comfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration in a startup environment You take ownership of your builds end to end - fit, function, documentation, and follow through Clear communicator with engineers across mechanical, electrical, and optical teams You notice things. If something looks wrong, you say something. Why Join Aurelius Systems: Build more in 1 month than most technicians build in 1 year. We field test weekly. Your work goes downrange, not into a filing cabinet. Career velocity is real. At ~10 engineers, there are no layers between you and impact. Work on a problem that actually matters. Small cheap drones are changing warfare. Our laser systems are the asymmetric answer - infinite magazine, near-zero cost per shot, scalable to every base, border, facility, and truck. Join the densest defense startup ecosystem in the country. California is where the next generation of defense companies are being built. How We Work: Core hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6. When we're sprinting toward a demo or field test, the team ramps up - nights, weekends, whatever it takes to ship. When the sprint lands, we ramp down. We don't manufacture intensity for show. If you've worked on a racing team or against a mission-critical deadline, you already know the rhythm. Benefits: Competitive salary and equity United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage Flexible 18 days PTO plus 5 sick days Travel to field test events and range days Covered daily lunches and office snacks and drinks E-bike and scooter stipend up to $500 Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work Export Control Notice: This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require U.S. Person status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a U.S. Person: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Don't Check Every Box: We care more about what you've built than how your resume reads. If you're the kind of person who figures things out with their hands and takes pride in the work, we want to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr Wheel the World