Aviation Structural Mechanic

Flextrades offers highly skilled Aviation Assemblers to our Manufacturing clients across the US for 3-6 Month Contract assignments.

We provide Travel Pay, Hotel, Per diem, Overtime

Aviation Assembler (Structural Assembler)

• Working on the prototype team to modify the next generation of XBat. This vehicle is still in the approval stage for production after testing and design changes. The testing and design changes are initiating the need to modify current vehicles that have been assembled and then build new vehicles as well. This will include assembling sub-assemblies that will be going into aircraft and also building aircraft from start to finish.- There is some fixtured work but because this is prototype work and work for the next generation of this aircraft, some fixtures won’t work and Manufacturing Engineers will correct those/make new.

• Composite/Structural Tasks- Modifying the composite structural outer skin of the aircraft. Skins are coming in from a supplier but there are holes that will need to drilled and/or slight repair/rework needed due to forecasted issues that occurred during the manufacturing process at the supplier site. Rather than send back product or wait for new, it often makes more sense to just modify and rework/repair.

  • Skins are carbon fiber. Must have experience with composite materials.

• Electrical Work- There are wires and harnesses (as well as their associated connectors) that need to be laid out and routed and the PCBAs integrated into the aircraft as well. Additionally, there is likely going to be a need to reroute wires and harness, repopulate connectors, change out connectors or pins on harnesses etc. for rework purposes.

  • Technicians are not building PCBAs, but they are installing them and connecting them to other components or wiring so an understanding of electrical wire, harnesses, and PCBAs is highly preferred.
  • The vast majority of harnesses are purchased from outside suppliers.
  • Soldering is not a requirement and if that’s needed, FTEs will do that.
  • General knowledge of electrical wires and harnesses and routing these is needed as well as ideally the understanding of electrical hazards (which could include NFPA 70E).

• Reference Materials: there are Prototype Instructions w/ some level of detail on them but these change frequently as they are for prototype work and when something is being built in prototype, there are changes and revisions frequently made as the work is being completed. These “instructions” are constantly in flux. So, there will be a lot of interaction with others as well to understand tasks at hand or to confirm tasks to be performed.- There are also visuals and engineering prints. Must be able to skillfully work from print.

  • All dimensions are in inch.
  • The ability to read schematics/prints as it relates to wire harnesses.

• All work is inspected by FTEs.

• Tools used: pneumatic drills, C-clamps, jo bolts, drivers, mallets, torque wrenches, reamers, and other standard hand tools.- Torque values are outlined in the event, and torque is required.

• May operate a pallet jack or a gantry hoist – training will be provided.

• At this time there is no written or practical exam for personnel qualification.

• Must be highly skilled, highly trained, take direction well and work well in a semi-autonomous way.- Note: this is because the company is “on a compressed timeline”. There are “limited shots at getting this work right” and it’s still in the prototype phase with the end goal of getting it approved for production. So, although someone needs to hit the ground running, if potential issues are seen, it’s required that questions be asked and hands are raised.

• Preferred candidate will have all or some of the following:- An A&P certification/license.

  • An active or expired IPC 610 certification.
  • An active or expired IPC 620 certification.
  • Experience working for an FAA Repair Shop on civilian or military aircraft w/ composite material.
  • A background as a Structural Mechanic in the military w/ composite material.