Lead Harness Technician, Hardware Test (R5272)

This role serves as the technical lead for the Hardware Test Harness Team, establishing and growing a dedicated harness capability supporting V-BAT and X-BAT test operations. The lead remains hands-on in fabrication, integration, and troubleshooting of wire harnesses while providing day-to-day leadership and mentorship to a team of technicians. Working with engineering teams, the role defines fabrication standards, improves build processes, and ensures product quality for reliable test infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Build, modify, repair, and validate complex wire harnesses and cable assemblies supporting Hardware Test systems for V-BAT and X-BAT.
• Lead daily activities for the Hardware Test Harness Team, providing technical guidance, work prioritization, and mentorship to harness technicians.
• Establish and continuously improve harness fabrication processes, quality standards, documentation, and best practices.
• Interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, connector pinouts, wire lists, and engineering drawings to build production-quality harnesses.
• Assemble and integrate harnesses into electrical and electromechanical test stands, fixtures, and laboratory equipment.
• Perform continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and functional verification to ensure harness quality and reliability.
• Troubleshoot wiring issues, connector failures, and integration problems to support development and production test operations.
• Partner with engineers during new test stand development to provide manufacturability feedback and improve harness serviceability.
• Support configuration management by maintaining harness documentation, revisions, bills of materials, and work instructions.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure materials and components are available to meet project schedules.
• Support laboratory operations by responding to emergent issues and performing repairs that minimize test downtime.
• Foster a culture of craftsmanship, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement within the Harness Team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience building wire harnesses, cable assemblies, or electrical systems in aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or similar industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading technicians or serving as a technical lead on hardware build activities.
• Strong ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, connector pinouts, and engineering drawings.
• Hands-on experience with harness fabrication techniques including crimping, soldering, shielding, splicing, labeling, and connector assembly.
• Experience performing electrical verification including continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with aerospace-quality workmanship standards and documentation practices.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven history of taking ownership, delivering high-quality work, and collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and treating others with respect.

Nice to have

• Experience building harnesses for aerospace, UAV, military, robotics, or autonomous systems.
• Experience supporting hardware test laboratories, manufacturing test equipment, or production test environments.
• Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards or equivalent harness manufacturing standards.
• Experience using harness design or documentation tools such as Capital, Zuken, SolidWorks Electrical, or AutoCAD Electrical.
• Experience creating or improving manufacturing work instructions and build documentation.
• Experience with soldering, machining, or electromechanical assembly.
• Previous experience helping build or scale a technical team.

Benefits

• Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
• Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)