Job Description

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 d o:

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

Job Tags

Similar Jobs