Long-term Contract
On-site - Foster City, CA
$42 - $47 hourly DOE / Full Benefits
U.S. Citizen or Green Card Required
Job Description: CNC Shop Technician
QUALA is seeking a Prototype CNC Shop Technician for a long-term contract role working on-site in Foster City, CA. This is an exciting opportunity to work within an organization that is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. They are transforming mobility-as-a-service by developing a fully autonomous, purpose-built fleet designed for AI to drive and humans to enjoy.
What you will do:
We are seeking a Shop Technician / General Fabricator to support our prototype CNC machine shop. This hands-on role ensures smooth shop operations by assisting machinists, performing secondary finishing, managing materials, and maintaining equipment. This position is ideal for someone who wants to develop into a CNC machinist or fabrication specialist and gain exposure to cutting-edge prototyping in a fast-paced R&D environment.
Responsibilities:
Shop Support & Maintenance (40%)
- Assist with machine setup, tool changes, and material preparation for CNC machining and manual fabrication.
- Perform machine maintenance, including coolant checks, chip clearing, lubrication, and general upkeep.
- Maintain a clean and organized shop environment, ensuring workspaces are efficient and safe.
- Manage scrap material, recycling processes, and shop waste disposal.
Fabrication & Secondary Operations (30%)
- Perform deburring, sanding, polishing, and cleaning of machined parts to meet quality standards.
- Assist with press-fitting, light assembly, and hand-finishing of prototype components.
- Operate basic manual fabrication equipment (bandsaws, drill presses, belt sanders, hand tools.)
Material Handling & Logistics (20%)
- Cut, organize, and stage raw materials (metals, plastics, composites) for machining.
- Assist with inventory management of tooling, fasteners, and consumables.
- Work with the logistics team to receive, inspect, and track incoming materials and parts.
Collaboration & Growth (10%)
- Support CNC machinists, programmers, and engineers in iterative prototyping and quick turnarounds.
- Learn CNC machine operations and assist in simple setups, with opportunities for career advancement.
- Participate in continuous improvement projects to enhance workflow and efficiency.
Qualifications:
- Experience inspecting, maintaining and fixing shop equipment to acceptable industry standards.
- Experience making parts from metals, polymers and other materials common in a prototyping shop.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work with little to no supervision.
- Exceptional communications and organizational skills
- Ability to handle and manage multiple projects and priorities at the same time.
- Proficiency with Google Docs or Microsoft Office suite of tools (word, PowerPoint, excel, etc.)
Bonus Qualifications:
- Experience with CNC machining (3-axis, 5-axis, other)
- Experience with automotive vehicle development; repair, assembly, fabrication, etc.
- Experience with documentation tools like Jira, Confluence
- Experience with GD&T
- MIG and TIG welding experience
- Experience with lab or shop management and safety
Compensation & Benefits
Hourly rate range $42 - $47 hourly DOE
Robust Benefits that include:
- $1 for $1 matching 401(k) with NO vesting period
- Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance
- Life insurance, STD, LTD, PTO, paid holidays, and more