Structures Lab Technician

As our Structures Lab Technician, you will build, test, and validate the structural hardware that gets our vehicles to space. You will be hands-on every day in the lab and shop — characterizing materials, forming metal, fabricating GSE, and running the structural tests that generate the strain and load data engineering needs to clear hardware for flight.

• Own
  
  Core Responsibilities:
• Perform material characterization testing (tensile, compression, hardness) on raw stock and test coupons
• Set up and execute structural tests on development and flight hardware, including load frames, fixtures, and test stands
• Fabricate Ground Support Equipment (GSE) — jigs, fixtures, and tooling used across test and production
• Build and assemble development and flight prototype structures and components
• Perform metal forming operations (bending, rolling, forming, light machining) to produce structural parts
• Support production builds by troubleshooting fit, tolerance, and process issues on the shop floor
• Install strain gauges and load cells, and collect and reduce strain and load data during testing
• Test reports and material characterization data packages
• Calibrated, ready-to-use GSE and test fixtures
• Fabricated development and flight prototype hardware ready for integration
• Strain and load datasets supporting structural verification and flight readiness

Impacts and Outcomes

• Test and characterization data you produce directly supports structural verification and flight readiness reviews
• GSE and fixtures you fabricate keep test and production schedules on track
• Your precision in strain and load data collection protects structural margins on flight hardware
• Hands-on fabrication and metal forming work turns engineering designs into flight-ready structures
• Careful documentation and traceability of test and build data support quality and safety standards across the lab and shop
• Your production floor support helps troubleshoot issues quickly, keeping builds moving without compromising fit or tolerance

What You Bring to the Team

• Hands-on experience with metal forming, fabrication, or machining (sheet metal, tube, or structural components)
• Experience with mechanical or structural test setups — load frames, strain gauges, load cells, or data acquisition systems
• Comfort reading engineering drawings and following documented test or build procedures
• Organized, detail-oriented approach to data collection, documentation, and traceability
• Strong communication skills to collaborate closely with test and design engineers, and willingness to learn new tools or equipment as needed

Bonus Points

• Experience in aerospace, spaceflight, or other technically complex hardware environments
• Welding, composites layup, or CNC machining experience

Compensation

• Level 1 (1–3 years): $19.23 – $36.06 / hour
• Level 2 (3–5 years): $33.00 – $48.07 / hour
• Level 3 (5–9 years): $45.00 – $62.50 / hour
• Level 4 (10+ years): $50.00 – $72.12 / hour

The estimated salary range for this role reflects various compensation factors. The final offer depends on factors such as work experience, education, training, key skills, and business needs.

In addition, LEAP provides a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, which includes:

• Equity Program: Equity plan participation is available to all employees following an initial 90-day employment period and is performance-based. Equity allocations are determined on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Managers may make recommendations based on individual and team performance. All equity grants are subject to executive review and approval in accordance with the Company’s equity plan.
• Retirement Planning: Save for the future with a 401(k) plan that includes competitive company matching.
• Growth Opportunities: Take advantage of a professional development stipend to advance your skills and expertise.
• Flexible Time Off: Enjoy PTO as needed and holiday breaks to help you balance work and life, including two week long company winter breaks and paid leave to support a family member, bond with a new child, or manage your own health needs
• Remote Work Flexibility: Our team operates on a hybrid model. We expect you to work with your team for specific…