Manufacturing Technician

Attalon / Location Overview

Attalon is a leading technology partner to the global aerospace and defense industry, specializing in the physics of light and heat. With over 500 employees in the U.S., Attalon engineers critical optical, laser, and coating technologies that enable systems to see farther, target faster, and survive the harshest environments. From high-energy directed laser systems to satellite optics and hypersonic thermal protection, Attalon equips the warfighter with the advantage of precision.

Ondax Monrovia (www.ondax.com) operates as an autonomous, commercial-first unit of Attalon, specializing in the global manufacture and distribution of proprietary photonics. By utilizing its pioneering Volume Bragg Grating (VBG) technology and SureLock™ wavelength-stabilized semiconductor lasers, Monrovia supplies high-precision, cutting-edge products to rapidly expanding fields like Raman spectroscopy, bio-instrumentation, datacom, scientific research, and high-power industrial lasers.

Job Details

Join our growing Monrovia team specializing in the assembly, testing, and support of our volume holographic grating product line. This highly technical role involves working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with cutting-edge photonics technology and consistently evolving designs aimed at pushing the boundaries of performance.

Responsibilities

1. Micro-Optics Fabrication & Precision Handling

• Delicate Component Handling: Clean, handle, inspect, and manipulate sensitive micro-optics using tweezers, vacuum wands, and microscopes without causing damage or contamination.
• Step-by-Step Recipe Execution: Strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), assembly travelers, and process flowcharts ensuring consistent build quality across every unit.
• Cleanroom Operations: Work daily inside cleanroom environments, adhering rigorously to gowning protocols, electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention, and contamination-control standards.

2. Process Operations

• Note Taking: Maintain thorough, legible, and real-time notes on assembly steps, test observations, and process run sheets.

• Discrepancy Reporting: Proactively flag and document anomalies, non-conformances, or subtle process drifts to engineering and supervisor leads to prevent recurring defects.

• Tool & Workstation Care: Clean, organize, and maintain optical fixtures, test benches, alignment stages, and cleanroom equipment.

• Housekeeping & Organization (5S): Maintain a spotless, orderly, and organized work environment, ensuring tools and materials are consistently returned to designated locations.

• Equipment Preventive Maintenance: Assist manufacturing engineers and technicians with routine calibration checks, fixture cleaning, and basic tool maintenance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Core Competencies: Highly responsible, self-motivated, and disciplined, with a strong internal drive to produce top-quality work with minimal supervision.
• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent;
• Experience: 0-1 year of hands-on experience in a precision assembly, optical fabrication, electronics, or cleanroom manufacturing environment.
• Optics & Lasers: Direct experience handling optical components (lenses, filters, crystals, or fibers) and working safely around active laser beams.
• Procedural Rigor: Strong attention to detail with proven ability to follow intricate multi-step instructions and record thorough operational notes.
• Dexterity & Visual Acuity: Strong manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination for handling miniature components under stereo microscopes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree or vocational certification in Photonics, Laser Electro-Optics, Electronics, or Precision Manufacturing is a strong plus.
• Experience with optical scratch dig inspection

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• Environment: Controlled cleanroom facility; requires wearing cleanroom garments (bunny suit/smock, hairnet, safety glasses/laser goggles, and nitrile gloves) for extended periods.
• Physical Effort: Ability to sit or stand at a laminar flow bench/microscope for prolonged periods while performing fine manual assembly with tweezers and micro-tools.
• Safety: Strict adherence to class 3B and class 4 laser safety standards.
• Occasional support with facility maintenance, production storage requirements and cleanup.

For California, the base hourly pay range for this role is $22.50-$29.75
This range is provided as a general guideline. When determining an offer, Attalon considers multiple factors, including job responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, specialized skills, and current market conditions.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Attalon, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Export Control Compliance

This role involves access to technology, materials, software, or hardware subject to U.S. export control laws. Therefore, to be considered, candidates must be classified as a “U.S. Person” under applicable regulations or be eligible for authorization under a U.S. government export license.