Manufacturing Technician - Prototype & Production

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for a highly hands-on Manufacturing Technician to join a growing engineering and manufacturing team in Carlsbad. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys building things, working with their hands, and taking products from prototype through low-volume production .

This is not a traditional high-volume assembly-line position. The environment is fast-moving and constantly evolving, with engineers and technicians working together to build, test, improve, and manufacture new products and components.

The ideal candidate is someone who is exceptionally good with their hands , takes pride in precise work, and can operate independently without needing constant direction. You should be comfortable working in an environment where processes may still be developing and where the work can change from one project to the next.

What You'll Do

• Perform detailed, hands-on assembly and manufacturing work in a cleanroom environment
• Perform frequent soldering and electronics assembly , including PCB-related work, wiring, connectors, and small components
• Build prototype and low-volume production assemblies
• Support manufacturing runs that may range from just a few prototypes to 10, 20, or more units
• Perform composite-related work, including composite layup and similar hands-on fabrication processes
• Cut, clean, prep, assemble, solder, and finish components with a high degree of precision
• Operate handheld tools and manufacturing equipment
• Work closely with engineers to build new designs and help transition products from prototype into repeatable production
• Help identify better ways to assemble products and improve manufacturing processes
• Maintain an extremely clean, organized, and detail-oriented workspace
• Adapt to changing priorities, designs, processes, and daily responsibilities

What We're Looking For

• 2+ years of hands-on manufacturing, electronics, engineering technician, or related experience
• Strong soldering skills
• Experience working with PCBs, electronics, wiring, connectors, or similar small components
• Excellent mechanical aptitude and demonstrated ability working with your hands
• Comfortable performing detailed and delicate assembly work for extended periods
• Ability to work independently and solve problems without constant supervision
• Experience in prototype, R&D, low-volume, or small-batch manufacturing environments strongly preferred
• Comfortable working in an unstructured, fast-changing environment where processes are still being developed
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and cleanliness
• Experience using handheld tools and manufacturing equipment
• Comfortable spending the majority of the workday performing hands-on manufacturing and assembly work

Nice to Have

• Cleanroom experience
• Composite fabrication or composite layup experience
• PCB or electronics manufacturing experience
• Wiring harness or cable assembly experience
• Experience with automated manufacturing equipment
• Experience supporting engineers in an R&D or prototype environment
• Experience taking products from prototype into low-volume or production manufacturing
• Solar or other advanced manufacturing experience

Who Will Do Well Here

Someone who has spent their career actually building things .

You may have worked for a smaller technology, aerospace, electronics, medical device, automotive, solar, or advanced manufacturing company where you were responsible for producing small runs of specialized products rather than thousands of identical parts.

You are comfortable being handed a new design or process, figuring out how to build it correctly, and then doing it again consistently. You enjoy detailed work, you're good with your hands, and you don't need a highly structured environment or step-by-step direction to be productive.

This is a contract-to-hire opportunity with strong potential to convert to a permanent position for the right individual.