Aerospace Technician

About the role

This role focuses on final verification, systems bring-up, and quality delivery of completed unmanned aircraft system (UAS) airframes. You will confirm structural, electrical, and mechanical conformance for each aircraft, perform weight and balance calculations, conduct full system checkouts and engine runs, and prepare and load aircraft for customer delivery. You will work closely with engineering and quality teams to ensure every aircraft meets rigorous technical and documentation standards before release.

Responsibilities

• Work from engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, schematics, bills of materials, and detailed work instructions to verify structural, electrical, and mechanical compliance of completed UAS airframes.
• Perform full aircraft-level verification of structural, electrical, and mechanical systems prior to release, ensuring all components meet design and quality requirements.
• Conduct weight and balance measurements and calculations on completed aircraft, documenting results to support regulatory and internal requirements.
• Execute full system checkout and power-on bring-up of avionics, flight control, payload, and communication systems, ensuring proper integration and functionality.
• Carry out final assembly verification and quality inspection of aerospace or UAS structures, including first article inspection and production testing as needed.
• Identify, document, and disposition nonconformances (NCRs) in coordination with Quality and Engineering, supporting root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Prepare, crate, and load completed aircraft for shipment and customer delivery, ensuring proper handling, protection, and documentation.
• Use travelers, routers, or MES/ERP work order systems to record work performed, maintain traceability, and support quality control requirements.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation to support traceability, quality inspection, and manufacturing verification activities.
• Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives by following standardized processes and contributing to process enhancement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in production, engineering, and quality to resolve issues, improve processes, and ensure on-time delivery of aircraft.

Essential Skills

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical drawings, wiring diagrams, schematics, bills of materials, and detailed work instructions.
• Proven ability to perform full aircraft-level verification of structural, electrical, and mechanical systems prior to release.
• Experience performing weight and balance measurements and calculations on aircraft or similarly regulated systems.
• Hands-on experience with final assembly verification and quality inspection of aerospace or UAS structures.
• Experience with electrical and avionics system checkout, including wiring continuity, electrical testing, and troubleshooting.
• Experience performing full system checkout and power-on bring-up of avionics, flight control, payload, and communication systems.
• Experience with small gas or turbine engine runs, engine break-in, and associated troubleshooting.
• Ability to identify, document, and disposition nonconformances (NCRs) and support non-conformance investigations.
• Demonstrated skills in functional testing, verification, validation, and quality inspection of complex systems.
• Familiarity with root cause analysis methods and quality control practices.
• Competence using hand tools, test equipment, and measurement devices such as multimeters, scales, calipers, diagnostic software tools, and other electrical and mechanical test equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and record-keeping to support quality documentation and traceability requirements.
• Experience working from travelers, routers, or MES/ERP work order systems in a production or manufacturing environment.
• Ability to perform system checkout, balance measurements, and systems integration tasks in a structured manufacturing setting.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in production testing, final assembly inspection, and manufacturing verification in aerospace, UAS, or defense manufacturing environments.
• Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement practices in a production setting.
• Experience performing first article inspection and supporting quality control activities.
• Familiarity with MES and ERP systems for tracking work orders, traceability, and documentation.
• Knowledge of structural engineering concepts, electrical and mechanical systems, and related calculations.
• Experience with flight control systems, payload integration, and communication systems in aerospace or UAS applications.
• Comfort working with documentation related to nonconformances, NCRs, and quality processes.
• Experience using diagnostic software tools to support system checkout, troubleshooting, and validation.
• Exposure to systems integration activities involving structural, electrical, and mechanical subsystems.

Work Environment

This role is based onsite in Madison, AL, within a hands-on aerospace manufacturing and test environment. You will work around completed and in-progress UAS airframes, performing structural, electrical, mechanical, and systems-level verification and testing. The position involves frequent use of hand tools, multimeters, calipers, scales, diagnostic software, and other electrical and mechanical test and measurement equipment. Work is performed on the production floor and in test areas where engine runs, system power-on, and functional testing are conducted. You will follow defined work instructions, travelers, routers, and MES/ERP work orders to ensure traceability and quality compliance in a structured, process-driven setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, AL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $28.00/hr. 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 Madison,AL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.