Electromechanical Technician

Job description

**Who We Are** GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company building the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions. At our core is the space robotics technology that has defined GITAI from the beginning. A small, highly capable engineering team applies that foundation across satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission hardware for applications such as Earth observation. Today, a major focus of our work is supporting U.S. national security missions, particularly through proliferated LEO satellite constellations and other next-generation space systems. We design, build, integrate, and test much of our hardware in-house. Electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams work closely together, allowing a small team to own complete systems rather than isolated components. This vertical integration helps us move quickly, learn directly from hardware, and shorten the path from architecture to a working system. We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. Requirements change, technical problems are often ambiguous, and many answers do not yet exist. We are looking for exceptional engineers and operators who want broad ownership, can work across disciplines, and are willing to stay close to the hardware until the mission succeeds. **Your Mission** As an Electromechanical Technician at GITAI, you will build and integrate the electrical and mechanical hardware behind our space robotics, spacecraft, and defense systems. You will work directly with engineers to assemble early prototypes, identify practical problems in the design and build process, and turn one-off builds into clear and repeatable manufacturing processes. Your work will span soldering, cable and wire harness fabrication, connector termination, electrical integration, precision mechanical assembly, rework, inspection, troubleshooting, and test support. This is not a conventional production-line role. Many of the systems you will work on are being built for the first time. Drawings may change, assembly procedures may not yet exist, and the correct tooling or build sequence may still need to be developed. You are expected to work through these gaps with the engineering team, build the hardware yourself, identify what does not work, and help establish a process that can be repeated with consistent quality. The work will not always take place in a clean office or controlled manufacturing environment. You may also travel with the engineering team to remote test locations, including desert environments, to support hardware installation, testing, troubleshooting, repair, and recovery. **What You’ll Drive** - Build and integrate electrical and mechanical hardware, including cable harnesses, connectors, sensors, motors, actuators, and mechanical assemblies. - Perform soldering, crimping, wiring, mechanical assembly, rework, inspection, and basic troubleshooting. - Work directly with engineers to identify design and assembly issues during prototype builds. - Turn early, one-off builds into clear and repeatable assembly processes. - Create and improve work instructions, assembly records, inspection steps, fixtures, and tooling. - Support hardware testing, failure investigation, repair, and modification. - Travel to field and test sites, including desert locations, to support hardware setup, operation, troubleshooting, repair, and teardown. - Maintain high standards for workmanship, safety, ESD, FOD, and configuration control. **What We’re Looking For** - 3+ years of hands-on experience in electromechanical assembly, prototype fabrication, hardware integration, or manufacturing. - Strong skills in soldering, crimping, cable and wire harness fabrication, and connector termination. - Experience assembling mechanical components, motors, actuators, sensors, mechanisms, and enclosures. - Ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, pinout tables, and bills of materials. - Experience using electrical test equipment, hand tools, torque tools, and precision measurement tools. - Ability to troubleshoot hardware issues and provide practical feedback to engineers. - Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where designs and processes are still being developed. - Willing and able to travel to remote test locations and work outdoors in heat, dust, wind, and other demanding conditions when required. - High school diploma or equivalent practical experience. - Ability to safely lift and carry up to 50 pounds without assistance from another person, with or without reasonable accommodation. - U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility. Strong Plus: - Experience building aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other high-reliability hardware. - IPC J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, NASA workmanship, or similar certification. - Experience developing assembly processes, work instructions, fixtures, tooling, or inspection criteria. - Experience working under AS9100, ISO 9001, or a similar quality-management system. - Experience supporting environmental, vibration, thermal, vacuum, propulsion, or field testing. - Technical school, trade school, associate degree, military technical training, or apprenticeship experience in electronics, avionics, mechanical systems, or manufacturing **Hiring Process** Our hiring process is designed to evaluate whether there is a real working fit before making a full-time offer. The process will generally include: 1. Remote interview with the Head of HR 2. Onsite interviews and skill exercises at GITAI’s office in Torrance, CA 3. Paid onsite temporary employment or contract engagement period, generally ranging from two to four weeks depending on the position 4. Full-time hiring decision The practical assessment may include soldering, harness fabrication, drawing interpretation, mechanical assembly, inspection, troubleshooting, or other hands-on work relevant to the position. The onsite temporary employment period is a required part of the hiring process. During this period, you will work with the team in a paid capacity so that both sides can evaluate workmanship, execution speed, communication, judgment, and fit in a real hardware-development environment. Full-time employment is not guaranteed before the temporary employment period. A full-time offer may be made only after GITAI completes its evaluation. Please apply only if you are able to participate in the full hiring process, including the required onsite temporary employment period. **Location and Position Type** - Torrance, California - Full-time, non-exempt hourly position - This role requires working onsite five days per week. Remote or hybrid work is not expected. - Overtime and occasional evening or weekend work may be required based on hardware build and test schedules. Overtime will be paid in accordance with applicable law. - This role includes occasional travel to remote test locations and may require outdoor work in desert or other demanding field conditions **Compensation** The expected pay range for this position is $25.00 to $50.00 per hour. Final title and compensation will depend on the candidate’s experience, demonstrated workmanship, technical certifications, breadth across electrical and mechanical assembly, and ability to help move hardware from prototype builds into repeatable manufacturing processes. This position is eligible for overtime pay in accordance with applicable law. **Benefits** - Comprehensive Healthcare: 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, with 90% coverage for dependents, plus life insurance - Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match - Paid Time Off: 12 days of paid time off (PTO) and 12 company holidays annually - Office Perks: Enjoy free snacks and drinks, plus regular social events to foster team spirit *GITAI does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing or recruiting agencies. We work only with recruiting partners that have been specifically engaged by GITAI. No fees will be paid for resumes submitted without a prior agreement.* Compensation may include base salary or hourly pay and, depending on the position, equity. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skillset, and other job-related factors. LA salary range $52,000—$104,000 USD **Important Notice** - Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. - To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), GITAI Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. - GITAI USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with GITAI USA is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.