Lead R&D Technician | On-site Opportunity | Quincy, MA | Fastwater Staffing

📍 Location: Quonset, RI
📄 Employment Type: Contract
🏢 Work Arrangement: On-site
🚀 Start Date: TBD
💰 Compensation: TBD — based on skills and experience

Important Screening Requirements

• 7+ years of electronics experience in an R&D or prototyping environment.
• Extensive experience building and troubleshooting cables, wire harnesses, and connectors.
• Proficiency in soldering, crimping, and mechanical cable assembly.
• Ability to independently complete complex R&D tasks with minimal supervision.
• Familiarity with product development from New Product Introduction (NPI) through scaled production.
• Experience reading electrical schematics and component drawings and using electronics test equipment.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Lead R&D Technician to coordinate daily technical build activities and support the assembly, integration, and troubleshooting of complex autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and electromechanical systems.

This contract opportunity combines hands-on technical work with day-to-day coordination of build activities. You will help organize workflows, establish technical priorities, guide operators, and collaborate with engineering and production teams to meet project milestones.

The successful candidate will bring strong electronics assembly and troubleshooting skills, experience in R&D or prototyping environments, and the ability to keep technical work organized while supporting product development and manufacturing.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a hands-on technical lead with extensive electronics and cable assembly experience who can independently troubleshoot complex hardware while coordinating daily build activities.

The ideal candidate is comfortable working with engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and test equipment; guiding technicians and operators; and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced R&D and manufacturing environment.

Strong candidates will combine advanced technical assembly skills with practical leadership, knowledge transfer, process improvement, and an understanding of the product lifecycle from prototyping through scaled production.

Key Responsibilities

R&D Assembly & Vehicle Integration

• Support all stages of vehicle development and manufacturing, providing technical feedback to engineering teams.
• Build, integrate, and test complex electromechanical assemblies for AUV systems.
• Use hand tools, assembly tooling, and general manufacturing equipment.
• Apply advanced hardware assembly, troubleshooting, and repair skills.
• Support the production and delivery of commercial and development products.

Cable, Harness & Electronics Assembly

• Build, assemble, and troubleshoot complex cables, wire harnesses, and connectors.
• Perform soldering, crimping, and mechanical cable assembly.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and component drawings.
• Use electronics test equipment to support assembly, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Help identify and resolve hardware issues during prototyping and production.

Technical Leadership & Operator Support

• Provide technical guidance, knowledge transfer, and process support to operators.
• Coordinate day-to-day technical tasks with technicians and the Production Supervisor.
• Support collaboration and knowledge sharing across engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Help operators resolve technical challenges and maintain consistent build quality.
• Promote cross-functional support and effective communication.

Workflow & Production Coordination

• Organize build workflows, manage multiple priorities, and maintain project schedules.
• Help prioritize work to meet delivery targets and project milestones.
• Complete daily transactions in production systems such as MES, NetSuite, and JIRA.
• Support the transition from R&D and prototyping activities to production.
• Balance competing technical requirements in a fast-paced environment.

Process Improvement & Manufacturing Support

• Participate in 5S and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support Lean manufacturing principles and improvements to build processes.
• Help improve assembly workflows, technical procedures, and production efficiency.
• Work with engineering and production teams to address manufacturing challenges.
• Support reliable delivery of development and commercial products.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of electronics experience in an R&D or prototyping environment.
• Ability to execute complex technical tasks independently with minimal supervision.
• Extensive experience with cable, harness, and connector assembly and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in soldering, crimping, and mechanical cable assembly.
• Working knowledge of product development, NPI, scaled production, and Lean manufacturing principles.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and component drawings.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Power supplies
  • Electronic loads
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Function generators
  • Data acquisition systems
  • Measurement sensors
• Strong organizational, communication, and troubleshooting skills.
• Dependability and attention to detail.
• Ability to balance competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with machining, sheet metal fabrication, or 3D printing.
• Experience collaborating across engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Experience testing small electronics assemblies through large vehicle structures.
• Experience developing test setups and executing procedures to validate design iterations.
• Material handling or hoisting experience, including overhead gantry operations or rigging.
• Experience with subsea robotics, AUVs, UUVs, or marine systems.