Hardware Technician

About the role

We are seeking a hands-on Hardware Technician to join our small engineering team. This is a critical build and fabrication role supporting the design, assembly, and testing of advanced systems across both our aerial platform and ground-based hardware.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, wire, and test mechanical design structures and subsystems, including composite and foam structures;
• Fabricate and test custom mechanical components using CNC machining, 3D printing (FDM and SLA), hand tooling, and composite lay-up techniques, working from engineering drawings and CAD files (STEP, DXF, STL);
• Support R&D of mechanical and kinetic designs of custom fixtures, actuation mechanisms, and specialized equipment enclosures;
• Build and assemble wiring harnesses, power distribution systems, low-voltage subsystems, and electronic subassemblies;
• Troubleshoot mechanical failures and fabrication issues, making real-time decisions to resolve problems and maintain build schedules;
• Maintain shop equipment, manage parts inventory, and track component status to ensure smooth build workflows and on-time hardware availability;
• Inspect finished assemblies for quality, dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and compliance with engineering specifications using precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges, CMM as needed);
• Collaborate with engineering leads to optimize designs for manufacturability, cost, and field reliability; provide feedback on feasibility and manufacturing constraints early in the design cycle;
• Document fabrication processes, maintain build logs, and capture lessons learned to establish repeatable manufacturing procedures and support scaling;
• Support field deployment preparation including equipment packing, pre-deployment validation testing, and, when needed, traveling to campaign sites to provide on-site technical support.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree, vocational/trade certification, or equivalent hands-on training in mechanical technology, manufacturing technology, electronics, or a closely related discipline; extensive practical experience may substitute for formal credentials.
• 2–5 years of hands-on fabrication and assembly experience in a manufacturing, prototyping, R&D, or machine shop environment;
• Demonstrated proficiency with CNC machining operations (setup, feeds and speeds, tool selection, workholding, G-code basics); experience with manual lathes or mills is a plus;
• Experience with FDM 3D printing including slicing, material selection, print troubleshooting, and post-processing; familiarity with Fusion 360 or similar CAD/CAM software;
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T callouts, and assembly documentation; familiarity with precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, depth gauges);
• Experience with electronics assembly, soldering, wiring harnesses, and basic electrical troubleshooting;
• Comfortable working in a small, fast-moving startup environment where priorities shift quickly and resourcefulness is as important as technical skill;
• Organized and detail-oriented, with a track record of maintaining clean shop environments, clear parts logs, and accurate build documentation;
• Prior exposure to aerospace/defense prototyping environments, RC plane building or unmanned aircraft, atmospheric instrumentation, PCB prototyping, and assembly is a significant plus;
• A builder’s mindset — someone who takes pride in the quality and reliability of what they make, and is energized by the challenge of building hardware that will be deployed in demanding real-world environments.

Location

Boulder, CO

Benefits

Protocos currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Protocos's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.