Production Assembly Technician - John Deere Contract Role - 1328292

Are you a mechanically adept assembly technician with an eagle eye for detail, a passion for electro-mechanical systems, and a hands-on drive to build high-tech hardware? Do you excel at fine-component assembly, cable wiring, box builds, and troubleshooting sophisticated optical sensors and drone stabilization systems?As Cerebral Staffing, we are seeking a motivated, hands-on Production Assembly Technician to join our team supporting our client, John Deere (specifically partnering with Sentera within the John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group), at their facility in St. Paul, MN. If you are ready to assemble, integrate, and test cutting-edge drone sensors and precision agricultural technologies while collaborating directly with engineering teams, we want to hear from you.

Production Assembly Technician – Sentera / John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group This is a dynamic, highly collaborative 2 year contract opportunity paying up to $24/hr. Operating 100% onsite in St. Paul, MN on a standard 1st shift, this role places you at the center of precision assembly, testing, and engineering documentation. You will build electro-mechanical assemblies for airborne agricultural sensors (such as cameras and gimbals), debug hardware, conduct flight tests, and serve as a vital liaison between shop floor production, internal engineering, and external contract manufacturers.

Position Details & Compensation

• Pay Rate: Up to $24/hr (W2).
• Location: 100% Onsite at Sentera / John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (767 N. Eustis St. Suite 120, St. Paul, MN 55114).
• Duration: 2 Years (Providing multi-year contract stability).
• Shift & Hours: 1st Shift, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday (Possible overtime).
• Dress Code: Business casual.
• Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k, and Referral Bonuses.
• Physical Requirements: Spending ~30% of the day active on your feet; must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Travel: Minimal local travel (within a 30-mile radius using personal vehicle) as needed.
• Certification: Must acquire an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification within 3 months of employment.
• Visa Sponsorship: Strictly not available now or in the future for this position.

Core Responsibilities

• Precision Electro-Mechanical Assembly: Perform component builds, wire harness integration, box builds, optical assembly, alignment, and soldering for drone sensors and camera gimbals.
• System Testing & Debugging: Perform fault investigation, diagnostic repairs, circuit card assembly (CCA) programming, system checkouts, and physical drone flight testing.
• Engineering & Manufacturer Liaison: Act as the technical Point of Contact (POC) for contract manufacturers. Manage Technical Data Packages (TDP), drawings, and Engineering Change Orders (ECO).
• Quality & Schedule Execution: Ensure defect-free product delivery, review and implement Quality Assurance processes, maintain material supply levels, and prioritize assembly builds for customer orders.

Required Skills & Experience

• Assembly & Technical Aptitude: Proven hands-on experience in electro-mechanical assembly, cable making, soldering, wired integration, or box builds.
• Technical Troubleshooting: Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to read technical drawings, schematics, and requirements independently.
• Software & Digital Literacy: Computer literate in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with strong organizational habits.
• Education Foundations:
• 2-year Associate Degree in a technical discipline (such as Electronics Technology), OR
• Candidates without a degree will be fully considered with 2 years of applicable electro-mechanical assembly and testing experience.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Prior experience with optical system assembly, camera alignment, or precision sensor calibration.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD platforms, particularly PTC Creo.
• Active FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification or prior experience operating unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
• Direct experience facilitating quality control standards or managing documentation transitions with third-party contract manufacturers.

APPLY NOW to step into advanced drone sensor manufacturing, build cutting-edge ag-tech hardware, and launch your assembly career with John Deere and Sentera!

Pay: Up to $24.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person