Composite Technician - Airframe

Responsibilities

• Prepare molds and tooling by cleaning, applying release agents, and preparing positive and negative molds.
• Perform composite layups using prepreg and wet-layup materials.
• Mix and apply resins, structural adhesives, sealants, fillers, and primers according to work instructions.
• Perform vacuum bagging, leak checks, and oven curing.
• Trim, drill, sand, finish, and prepare composite parts for bonding and assembly.
• Assemble bonded composite and composite-to-metal structures.
• Operate hand and powered tools, including torque wrenches, drills, saws, sanders, heat guns, and soldering irons.
• Fabricate and assemble test rigs, test articles, jigs, and fixtures.
• Interpret engineering models, drawings, work instructions, layup schedules, and test procedures.
• Fabricate, assemble, and handle tight-tolerance aerospace components.
• Assemble and install prototype aircraft mechanical and electrical components.
• Support internal and external structural and systems testing.
• Inspect parts for appearance, defects, function, dimensions, and tolerances.
• Operate ground-support equipment, including forklifts and gantry cranes.
• Maintain composite materials, tools, equipment, and shop areas in a clean, organized condition.
• Occasionally travel to machine and fabrication shops to obtain parts or purchase equipment.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with diverse teams.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Hands-on experience with composite fabrication, repair, or assembly.
• Experience with prepreg or wet layup, mold preparation, vacuum bagging, and oven curing.
• Experience applying resins, structural adhesives, sealants, fillers, and primers.
• Experience trimming, drilling, sanding, and finishing composite components.
• Experience using hand tools, powered tools, and precision measuring equipment.
• Experience assembling, fabricating, or handling critical, tight-tolerance components.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, work instructions, and specifications.
• Understanding of composite workmanship standards, material handling, and contamination control.

Nice-to-Haves

• Aircraft or aircraft-component manufacturing or assembly experience.
• Experience with bonded aerospace structures.
• Experience operating forklifts, gantry cranes, or other ground-support equipment.
• CNC machining experience.
• OSHA certification.
• Knowledge of quality procedures, inspection methods, dimensions, and tolerances.