Machine Operator / Assembly Technician (Entry Level)
Aerospace Manufacturing | Zepher Inc. | Bingen, WA | On-site | Full-time
Pay: $20.00 – $25.00 per hour
About the Position
Zepher is a precision aerospace contract manufacturer producing sensitive, high-value components to AS9100 / ISO 9001 standards. We're hiring an entry-level Machine Operator / Assembly Technician to keep our machines running, build and finish assemblies, and support the shop floor.
You do not need machining experience. You need to show up, pay attention, follow instructions exactly, and care about getting it right. We'll teach you the rest — how to run our machines, how to measure a part, how to read a drawing, and what aerospace quality actually means in practice.
The work is hands-on and a lot of it is repetitive: loading parts, tending machines, keeping jobs moving. We're looking for someone who's genuinely fine with that. In exchange, you'll keep learning, and what you earn will track what you can do.
What You'll Do
This role is a mix of machine startup and tending, assembly and finishing work, and general shop support. The blend shifts with the shop's workload.
Machine Startup & Operation
- Start up machines at the beginning of the shift and run warm-up cycles
- Top off coolant, check concentration, and maintain coolant tanks
- Manage chips — empty conveyors and hoppers, keep machines and the floor clear
- Check way lube, air, and fluid levels; flag anything low or out of range
- Load and unload material and parts on machines running established, proven setups
- Start cycles and monitor the machine and the process throughout the run
- Check parts during production to confirm they're holding size
- Stop and escalate immediately when something looks, sounds, or measures wrong
Assembly, Marking & Packaging
- Rivet and mechanically assemble components per drawings and work instructions
- Deburr, clean, and finish machined parts to specification
- Mark parts for identification and traceability per customer specifications
- Kit and stage hardware and components
- Perform basic inspection to confirm parts and assemblies match the traveler
- Package and prepare finished parts for shipment per packaging requirements
Quality & Documentation
- Follow work instructions, travelers, and drawings exactly as written
- Use calipers, micrometers, and gauges to check parts in process — we'll train you
- Document production activity and traceability accurately and completely
- Never guess. In aerospace, "close enough" isn't. If you're not sure, ask.
Shop Support
- Move, stage, and stock material, tooling, and parts
- Support shipping, receiving, and inventory
- Perform routine cleaning and basic preventive maintenance on equipment
- Keep the work area clean, organized, and safe
- Follow all safety protocols and wear required PPE
Equipment You'll Be Around
Our shop runs Mazak, Brother, Haas, and Trak machines — 5-axis machines, 4-axis mills, 3-axis mills, a lathe with live tooling, and semi-manual equipment. You'll work on the machines and processes that fit where you are, and pick up more over time.
Schedule
Tuesday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Four ten-hour days, Saturday through Monday off. Overtime may be required depending on shop workload.
The early start means you're out at 4:30 with the whole evening ahead of you, and a Monday off is the one weekday you can hit the river, the mountain, or the DMV without a crowd — or a PTO day.
Required Qualifications
- Strong mechanical aptitude and real attention to detail
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions exactly
- Willingness to learn measurement, drawing interpretation, and machine operation
- Reliable attendance and punctuality — the shop depends on it
- Comfortable working with your hands in a manufacturing environment
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for a 10-hour shift
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) due to ITAR requirements
Helpful, But Not Required
- Any hands-on background: manufacturing, warehouse, automotive, construction, agriculture, fabrication, small engine repair, or a well-equipped home shop
- Experience in a regulated or quality-driven environment
- Basic familiarity with calipers or micrometers
- Riveting, sheet metal, or mechanical assembly experience
- Forklift experience
- Coursework or vocational training in machining, welding, manufacturing, or industrial technology
Compensation & Benefits
Hourly Rate: $20–$27 per hour, depending on experience.
Benefits Package (after 60 days):
- 75% company-paid medical (includes dependents); 100% company-paid dental and vision
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Life insurance with Employee Assistance Program
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off starting at 3 weeks annually, increasing with tenure
- 6 paid holidays plus potential end-of-year closure between Christmas and New Year
- Education assistance for job-related training and certifications
- Skill-based pay increases as your capabilities grow
What to Expect
The core of this job is loading parts, tending machines, and doing the unglamorous work that keeps a shop running. That's true on day one and it stays true for as long as we need it to be. We're not going to sell you a promotion timeline.
What we will tell you: there's always another skill to learn here, and we'll teach you. As you take on more — more machines, more processes, more we can trust you with on your own — your pay grows with what you can do. Our education assistance covers job-related technical training and certifications if you want to build credentials while you earn.
We're looking for someone who takes pride in doing routine work exceptionally well, day after day, asks questions, and takes feedback. If that's you, we'd like to talk.
Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to perform physical activities including standing for 10-hour shifts, repetitive motion, walking, lifting, and pushing or carrying objects up to 50 pounds. Must be able to work while wearing all required safety equipment, including safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes, and other PPE as needed.
How to Apply
If you're mechanically inclined, detail-oriented, and want steady hands-on work in precision aerospace manufacturing, we want to hear from you. Submit your resume — or just a short note about your hands-on experience and why this interests you. A polished resume is not a requirement for this job.
Note: This position requires on-site presence in Bingen, WA. No remote work opportunities are available.
Zepher is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
