Aerospace Structures Technician / Mechanical Assembler
Location: Long Beach, CA
Pay: $25/hr - $35/hr
Job Description
The Structure Technician drills precision holes, assembles flight hardware, and performs high-accuracy mechanical assembly on aerospace structural components. This role uses specialized tooling, structural adhesives, and precision measurement tools to ensure all work meets strict aerospace tolerances and quality standards.
Responsibilities
Drill precision holes in aerospace structural components and flight hardware, selecting appropriate drill motors, drill sizes, and drilling methods for each task.
Set up and use appropriate tooling, jigs, fixtures, or egg cups to ensure accurate alignment and repeatability during drilling operations.
Assemble structural hardware using structural adhesives, following correct bond preparation and cure processes.
Install and properly torque fasteners, including hiloks, rivets, and other mechanical fastening systems, according to specifications and torque requirements.
Install inserts such as helicoils or similar threaded inserts in structural components, ensuring proper fit and alignment.
Perform in-process inspections using micrometers, calipers, pin gauges, and other precision hand tools to verify dimensions and tolerances, including working to precision tolerances of approximately ±0.001 inch and ±1 as specified.
Carry out blending and deburring operations using appropriate hand and power tools to remove burrs, sharp edges, and surface imperfections from drilled or machined areas.
Apply alodine, sealants, or other protective coatings to hardware after drilling, blending, or deburring to protect against corrosion and environmental damage.
Follow aerospace assembly and structural bonding procedures, including bond prepping of surfaces and proper use of sealants and adhesives.
Use torque wrenches and other torque tools to achieve and verify correct torque values on fasteners and structural joints.
Work with aluminum and other aerospace materials, ensuring correct handling, preparation, and assembly techniques.
Support mechanical assembly of mechanisms and structural subassemblies, ensuring proper function and alignment.
Adhere to 5S practices by maintaining an organized, clean, and safe work area in the aerospace warehouse environment.
Operate material handling equipment such as forklifts when required and when properly qualified, to move materials and hardware safely.
Participate in technical discussions and demonstrate understanding of drilling processes, including explaining step-by-step how to drill specific hole sizes (for example, a half-inch hole) using correct tools, speeds, feeds, and inspection steps.
Follow all aerospace quality, safety, and process documentation requirements while meeting production and schedule expectations.
Essential Skills
Hands-on experience drilling precision holes in aerospace structural components and flight hardware.
Experience using torque wrenches and torque tools to correctly torque fasteners and verify torque values.
Knowledge of structural bonding processes, including structural adhesives and bond prepping of surfaces.
Ability to work to tight precision tolerances, including approximately ±0.001 inch and specified tolerance levels such as ±1.
Proficiency with hiloks, rivet installations, and other aerospace fastening systems.
Mechanical assembly experience, including working with mechanisms and structural subassemblies.
Skill in applying sealants and protective coatings such as alodine to aerospace hardware.
Competence using precision measurement tools such as micrometers, calipers, and pin gauges for in-process inspections.
Work Environment
The role is based in an aerospace manufacturing environment focused on the production and assembly of flight hardware and structural components. You work around drilling stations, structural assembly areas, and inspection stations that use pneumatic drills, torque wrenches, precision measuring tools such as micrometers, calipers, and pin gauges, and equipment for applying sealants and protective coatings like alodine. The environment is typical of a production aerospace facility, with active shop-floor operations and a focus on precision, cleanliness, and safety.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Santa Ana, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $40.00/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 Santa Ana,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.
About Aerotek
Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.
Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.
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.
