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Lead AIT Technician Verified today

Loft Orbital · Golden, CO · Production · first seen 2026-09-03
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About this Role

As Lead AIT Technician, you'll be a working technical leader and people manager within the Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) team. You'll remain hands-on with spacecraft flight hardware while supporting, mentoring, and developing the technicians around you. You'll work closely with AIT Engineers and cross-functional teams to ensure spacecraft are assembled and integrated to the highest workmanship and quality standards.

Responsibilities

  • Perform hands-on assembly, integration, inspection, and rework of spacecraft flight hardware as a senior member of the AIT technician team.
  • Manage, mentor, and develop AIT Technicians, providing regular feedback, coaching, and support for their professional growth.
  • Serve as a technical reference for the technician team, helping reinforce workmanship standards, best practices, and consistent execution.
  • Assemble and integrate mechanical and electrical spacecraft hardware in accordance with engineering drawings, work instructions, specifications, and controlled processes.
  • Perform precision mechanical assembly activities using hand tools, torque tools, measuring equipment, and other production equipment.
  • Perform electrical assembly activities such as cable and harness installation, connector mating, routing, bonding, and spacecraft integration activities.
  • Inspect completed work and support peer inspections to ensure hardware meets engineering, workmanship, and quality requirements.
  • Support the development, improvement, and maintenance of build procedures, work instructions, and production documentation based on hands-on experience.
  • Identify and escalate technical or quality issues to Engineering and Quality for resolution.
  • Contribute to root cause investigations, NCRs, FRACAS, and corrective actions when issues arise during spacecraft build and integration.
  • Partner with AIT Engineers, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Design Engineering to improve manufacturability, integration processes, and product quality.
  • Champion a safe, organized, and disciplined production environment that fosters quality, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience assembling and integrating spacecraft, aerospace hardware, or similarly complex high-reliability hardware.
  • Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and/or managing technicians in an assembly or production environment.
  • Strong hands-on mechanical and electrical assembly skills, with a solid understanding of high-reliability workmanship practices.
  • Ability to interpret and work from engineering drawings, schematics, 3D models, technical specifications, and detailed work instructions.
  • Experience using precision hand tools, torque tools, measurement equipment, and other equipment commonly used for spacecraft or aerospace hardware assembly.
  • Experience working within controlled manufacturing and engineering processes, including configuration-controlled documentation, PDM/PLM systems, ECOs, and non-conformance processes.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear technical guidance, feedback, and coaching.
  • Meticulous attention to detail and a strong sense of ownership over the quality of work performed.
  • Ability and willingness to remain hands-on with spacecraft hardware while taking responsibility for the development and performance of the technician team.

Nice to Have

  • Previous experience as a Lead Technician, Senior Technician, or Technician Manager in the aerospace or space industry.
  • Experience with spacecraft Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) from initial hardware integration through vehicle-level activities.
  • Familiarity with aerospace workmanship standards such as IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, NASA-STD-8739, or equivalent standards.
  • Experience with RF hardware or RF-related spacecraft integration.
  • Software or programming experience, particularly Python.
  • Experience contributing to FRACAS, NCR, root cause analysis, or corrective action processes.
  • Certified forklift and/or crane operator.

Benefits

  • 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
  • Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
  • 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
  • Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
  • 401(k) plan and equity options
  • Daily catered lunches and snacks
  • International exposure to team in France
  • Fully paid parental leave: 14 weeks for primary caregiver and 10 weeks for secondary caregiver
  • Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits
  • Off-sites and social events and celebrations
  • Relocation assistance when applicable