R&D Fabricator

About Us

Our mission at Santa Cruz Bicycles is to make the best bicycles and to have fun doing it. Since 1994, we’ve been doing just that, and finding unique and innovative solutions for everything from suspension design to manufacturing processes along the way. We are a global organization and one of many premium brands in the Pon Bike portfolio, the largest bike company in the world.

We are humble but proud of our heritage, built on our commitment to quality products and our most valued asset, talented people who are invited to be themselves and enhance our distinctive and evolving workplace culture.

As our R&D Fabricator, you aren’t just following a blueprint; you are the bridge between a digital design and a physical ride. Reporting to the R&D Lab Manager, you will support the Engineering Department by fabricating the prototype frames and custom fixtures that define the next generation of mountain biking. The R&D Fabricator will support the Engineering Department by fabricating prototype bicycle frames, designing and building fixtures and equipment for the Engineering Test Lab.

• Fabricate full-suspension bicycle frames with elite accuracy and efficiency
• Measure and record alignment and point-to-point tolerances to ensure every prototype meets our standards
• Design and fabricate new fixtures and equipment to improve the quality of our prototype frames
• Use Creo to design and build the parts, fixtures, and test lab equipment
• Work with our Production Engineering team to design and build new fixtures to level up and support our bike assembly factory in Santa Cruz
• Perform manual machining as needed
• Keep the machine shop running like a precision machine—servicing mills, replacing worn tools, and maintaining a clean, professional workspace
• Help the team find rework solutions when we hit a snag

• 10 years working as a machinist and fabricator
• Experience in accurately fabricating full suspension prototype bicycle frames and other parts
• Expert at Mig/Tig welding (aluminum and steel) and a master of the manual mill and lathe
• Working knowledge of 6000 series aluminum heat treatment protocol
• Expert manual machinist, using mill and lathe, CNC experience a plus
• Experience creating fully detailed parts and assemblies in Creo, including properly dimensioned engineering drawings, is a plus
• Ability to create, appropriately dimension and tolerance engineering drawings using Creo
• Ability to pivot quickly when priorities shift and provide clear, professional updates to the team on project status
• You enjoy working with designers and engineers and view constructive feedback as a tool to build a better bike

Ability to read and comprehend and explain documents in English. Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, in English.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the overall duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the overall duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use of hands and fingers, handle, or feel, reach above head with hands and arms, lift, push, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl, pull, talk and hear.

The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision may be corrected within normal range. The noise level in the work environment is quiet.

This compensation package will be dependent on experience, qualifications, industry experience and the interview with a potential range of up to $35 - $45 per hour.