UAV Production/Assembly Technician

About Peregrine

Peregrine Industries builds affordable, U.S.-made autonomous systems for tactical strike, counter-UAS, training, and defense modernization missions. Our platforms include Kestrel and DRACO, backed by PTEC, our modular tactical effects core.

We move fast, hold ourselves to honest engineering standards, and build hardware that has to work the first time in the field.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Drone Assembler / UAV Production Technician to build Peregrine's aircraft at our Covina, CA manufacturing facility. You will assemble and integrate airframes and their subsystems, build to spec, and make sure every bird you touch meets our quality standards before it moves downstream.

This is a hands-on, detail-driven role on the production floor. You will work directly with engineering and the rest of the production team to turn drawings and work instructions into flight-ready hardware, flag issues early, and help us tighten the line as we scale from prototype to low-rate production.

What you'll do

• Assemble UAS airframes and their mechanical and electromechanical subsystems.
• Install propulsion, power, sensing, communications, and payload components.
• Perform wiring, harnessing, connector installation, soldering, and clean cable management.
• Integrate avionics and mission compute, install firmware, and run system calibrations per SOP.
• Read engineering drawings, work instructions, and assembly documentation, and build to them exactly.
• Perform functional checkouts and quality inspections, and flag defects before they move downstream.
• Maintain accurate production and build records in accordance with company procedures.
• Troubleshoot assembly issues and work directly with engineering to resolve them.
• Help improve assembly processes, fixturing, and throughput as we scale from prototype to low-rate production.
• Keep a clean, organized, safe work area and follow all handling procedures, including lithium battery safety.

What we're looking for

• Hands-on experience assembling mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Comfortable with hand tools, torque tools, crimpers, calipers, and soldering equipment.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams, and assembly instructions and follow them precisely.
• Strong attention to detail and a real commitment to quality.
• Ability to think in 3D and work through fitment, alignment, and integration problems.
• Ability to work independently and in a small, fast-moving team, and to stay calm under production pressure.

Strongly preferred

• Experience with drones, RC aircraft, robotics, or aerospace manufacturing.
• Solid soldering, wiring, and harness-building skills.
• Lithium battery handling experience.
• Carbon fiber and composite assembly experience.
• Familiarity with quality control, SOP-driven builds, and production documentation.
• Prior kit, model, or experimental aircraft build experience.

Working conditions

Primarily shop-floor work. Must be able to perform repetitive hand and wrist movements, reach overhead, bend or stoop, sit or stand for extended periods, and occasionally team-lift up to 100 lbs. Some outdoor support work during field and flight test events.

To apply

Send a resume and a short note on the most impressive thing you've personally built or assembled to [email protected].

Peregrine Industries is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Position is subject to U.S. export-control regulations; applicants must qualify as U.S. Persons under ITAR.