Assembly Technician

About the role:

Arkeus is seeking an Electronic Assembly Technician to support the build, integration and testing of precision optical and electronic assemblies as we scale our manufacturing capability in Queensland.

This is a hands-on technical role working at the intersection of electronics and optics in a Defence-aligned manufacturing environment. You will be responsible for assembling, inspecting and verifying complex electro-optical sub-assemblies and systems to exacting standards.

You will work closely with Engineering and Quality to ensure assemblies meet design specifications, customer requirements and regulatory standards.

Reporting to the Manufacturing Manager, you will be a key contributor to the production team and play a direct role in delivering high-reliability products to our Defence customers.

Key responsibilities:

Assembly & Integration

• Assemble electro-optical and electronic assemblies in accordance with work instructions, routers and engineering drawings.
• Perform precise handling, alignment and integration of optical components including lenses, mirrors, filters and detector arrays.
• Solder and terminate electronic assemblies.
• Operate and maintain benchtop tools, jigs and fixtures used in optical and electronic assembly.

Inspection & Testing

• Perform in-process and final inspection of assemblies using optical inspection equipment, multimeters and test fixtures.
• Conduct functional testing of electro-optical systems and record results in accordance with test procedures.
• Identify, document and escalate non-conformances through the QMS.

Quality & Compliance

• Work within an ISO9001 Quality Management System.
• Maintain accurate build records, travellers and traceability documentation.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve assembly processes, tooling and yield.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
• Support internal audits and process reviews as required.

About you:

You are a hands-on technician with a steady hand, strong attention to detail and a genuine interest in precision optical and electronic systems.

You take pride in the quality of your work and understand that in a Defence environment, accuracy and traceability are non-negotiable.

You are comfortable working from engineering drawings and technical documentation, and you thrive in a structured, process-driven environment.

Your experience and skills:

• Demonstrated experience in electronic assembly, preferably in a regulated or high-reliability environment (Defence, aerospace, medical).
• Experience handling and assembling optical components or electro-optical systems is highly regarded.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics and assembly instructions.
• Familiarity with inspection tools and techniques including microscopes, optical comparators and basic test equipment.
• Understanding of ESD handling procedures and cleanroom practices.
• Strong documentation discipline and attention to detail.
• Experience working within a QMS is an advantage.

Why Join Arkeus

• You will work on the hardest problems in deep-tech — optics, autonomy, real-time AI and hardware-software integration in a single product. The gap between what you build and where it ends up is almost nonexistent.
• You will collaborate with exceptional leaders who have 40+ years of combined experience in autonomy, optics and defence. You will be learning from — and contributing to — the best in the field.
• You will become part of a close-knit, ego-free team where ideas compete on merit, not seniority. Low politics, high trust. The kind of team you will still be talking about in ten years.
• You will work hard and be expected to bring your best — and in return, you will grow faster than you ever would at a large organisation.
• You will work on technology that is already deployed in real environments — protecting lives and strengthening security across defence and national security applications.
• You will receive a competitive, market-benchmarked salary, structured career pathways built to grow with you, and the opportunity to participate in our Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).
• You will have the opportunity to mentor bright emerging talent through our highly sought-after intern program and strong connections with leading universities.

If this sounds like you, please apply even if you don't check every box — we care more about how you think than whether your CV is perfect. Join our growing team and help us change the world through autonomous systems.

About Arkeus

Arkeus builds AI-powered sensing systems that help autonomous platforms detect, track and understand what's happening in the most complex and contested environments. Our technology is deployed across defence and national security applications — already protecting lives and strengthening security across the U.S. and allied markets.

Backed by QIC, Main Sequence, R&VC, Salus Ventures, Folklore Ventures, DYNE Ventures and Beaten Zone Venture Partners, Arkeus is entering a major growth phase. We are a small, fast-moving company with the energy and ambition of a start-up and the technical credibility of a world-class defence technology provider.

We work at the intersection of optics, autonomy, robotics and real-time AI and we deploy what we build. If you want to ship technology that matters, not technology that ships decks, this is where you belong.

Check it yourself on News | Arkeus

We have developed an inclusive, transparent and engaging culture that focuses on building a diverse workforce — realising that to attract the very best, we need to ensure our culture is ready to welcome people from all ages, genders and backgrounds.