Aircraft Assembly Technician I

Van’s Aircraft is the worldwide leader in the production of kit aircraft. We seek skilled, motivated, passionate individuals to join our team building aircraft at the Van’s headquarters in Aurora, Oregon. We are looking for candidates with experience in sheet metal, fiberglass fitting/wet layup, electrical wiring, and other relevant hands-on mechanical experience, as well as critical-thinking skills.

Essential responsibilities

• Reading, comprehending, and executing technical build instructions/blueprints and manufacturing processes documents
• Preparing and assembling metal parts such as layout, fabrication, trimming, deburring, priming and riveting
• Installing electrical and avionics systems, including accurately preparing and terminating wires, routing and installing prefabricated wire bundles through structures, and troubleshooting electrical faults
• Maintaining a clean and organized work area
• Identifying inefficient shop processes/flows and utilizing LEAN principles to improve the manufacturing process and assembly processes
• Continually assess your work and that of others on the team for quality assurance
• Other duties as required.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to identify required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), i.e., cut resistant gloves, hearing protection, eye protection, or aprons required for the work area and tasks being performed
• Identifying aviation hardware, i.e., MS, NAS, AN, and others
• Ability to identify the most efficient tool for the task
• Proficiency with arithmetic to include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractiontodecimal conversions
• Proficiency using the Microsoft Office suite to include Word and Excel
• Ability to work safely with fiberglass, resins, and various solvents/chemicals
• Work well as an individual and as an effective and solid team member

Education/Experience

• One or more years of similar experience preferred, but will train the right candidate
• High School diploma or equivalent
• While not required, previous experience building aircraft especially Van’s RV models is a plus

About Van's Aircraft, Inc.

Van's Aircraft, founded in 1973 by Richard VanGrunsven, leads in designing and manufacturing high-performance kit aircraft. With a strong reputation for innovation and excellence, Van's is based at Oregon’s Aurora State Airport (KUAO) and is home to a dedicated team of about 110 employees. We are committed to improving our products to meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance. As Van's continues to grow, we’re expanding our capabilities and exploring new opportunities in aviation, creating exciting career potential. We value cross-departmental collaboration, providing visibility into how your role contributes to our collective success. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, holidays, health, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance, a 401K plan, and access to an employee flying club.