Engineering Technician – Entry Level
About UsAdvanced Structural Technologies (AST) is a leading manufacturer of forged, spun, and machined products for the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Based in Oxnard, California, we operate across 250,000+ sq. ft. of modern facilities and employ approximately 200 skilled professionals. Our customers include some of the most demanding names in aerospace and defense, and we take pride in delivering precision components on time, every time.Position OverviewAST is looking for a motivated, hands-on Engineering Technician to join our Spin division on the production floor. This is an entry-level position well-suited for a recent graduate or someone with a technical background who is eager to apply their skills in a real-world manufacturing environment.In this role, you’ll work directly alongside experienced engineers and operators on our metal spinning equipment — supporting setups, making offsets and program adjustments, and assisting with tooling design modifications in SolidWorks. This is not a desk job — you’ll be on the floor every day, learning the craft of metal spinning and building the technical foundation for a long-term career in advanced manufacturing. The ideal candidate is mechanically inclined, detail-oriented, and genuinely enjoys hands-on work.Core ResponsibilitiesMachine Setup & Process SupportAssist engineers with setups on metal spinning equipment, including cylinder, COPV, and tube product configurationsMake tool offsets and dimensional adjustments under engineering direction to maintain part conformanceSupport equipment changeovers, including tooling swaps, roller and mandrel installation, and first-article verificationMonitor spinning operations and make real-time adjustments to maintain process stability and part qualityProgram AdjustmentMake adjustments to spinning machine programs under engineering direction to correct dimensional non-conformancesDevelop familiarity with CNC control interfaces used on AST’s spinning equipmentDocument program changes and communicate updates to engineering for review and approvalAssist in developing and refining programs for new part setups and process improvementsTooling Design SupportSupport engineering in modifying spinning tooling designs using SolidWorksAssist with the creation and revision of mandrels, rollers, fixtures, and other spin tooling componentsTranslate floor observations and dimensional feedback into actionable design changesMaintain organized tooling documentation and revision historyInspection & DocumentationPerform in-process inspections using precision measuring tools including calipers, micrometers, and height gaugesVerify dimensional conformance against engineering drawings and traveler requirementsDocument production data, inspection results, and process observations accuratelyEscalate non-conformances to engineering or quality for dispositionQualificationsAssociate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field — or equivalent hands-on experienceMechanically inclined with a strong desire to work on the production floorExperience with SolidWorks or similar CAD software is a plusExposure to CNC programming or machine control interfaces is a plusAbility to read and interpret mechanical drawings and GD&TFamiliarity with precision measuring tools and inspection techniquesStrong attention to detail and a problem-solving mindsetMetal spinning experience is not required — we will train the right personWhy Join AST?At AST, we invest in our people. We offer a competitive benefits package including:Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance401(k) Savings PlanCompany-Sponsored Life InsuranceShort-Term and Long-Term Disability CoveragePaid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Leave