Aircraft Assembly & Fabrication Technician

Aircraft Assembly & Fabrication Technician

Buoyant Aero · Brooklyn, NY · Full-time, on-site

Buoyant Aero builds and operates electric airships for long-duration aerial missions, starting with advertising and live events. Our mission is to create aerial platforms that bring joy, wonderment, and utility to the world.

We’re looking for a hands-on builder to help turn aircraft designs into reliable, finished hardware. You’ll work across mechanical assembly, wiring, fiberglass, paint, CAD, and 3D printing—building parts, assembling aircraft, and improving how we make them.

This role is a good fit for someone who enjoys working with their hands, takes pride in clean workmanship, and can move comfortably between a workbench, a computer, and the shop floor.

What you’ll do

• Mechanical assembly: Measure, drill, tap, cut, fit, and assemble aircraft components using hand tools, power tools, drawings, and fixtures.
• Electrical assembly: Build wiring harnesses, crimp connectors, solder, route and secure cables, and perform basic electrical checks.
• Composites: Fabricate and repair fiberglass and other composite parts, including layup, bonding, trimming, sanding, and finishing.
• Paint and presentation: Prepare surfaces, apply coatings and graphics, and produce consistent finishes on customer-facing aircraft.
• CAD and 3D printing: Make straightforward part modifications, design simple brackets and fixtures, prepare prints, operate printers, and finish printed parts.
• Inspection and testing: Check dimensions, fit, finish, and electrical connections; follow acceptance procedures and flag problems before parts reach the field.
• Shop organization: Keep tools, materials, hardware, and work areas organized so builds move efficiently.
• Process improvement: Help turn prototype builds into clear, repeatable assembly steps. Suggest simpler parts, better fixtures, and ways to reduce rework.

What we’re looking for

• Demonstrated experience building or repairing physical products, equipment, vehicles, or prototypes.
• Confidence using common shop tools and making accurate measurements.
• Practical wiring skills, including soldering, crimping, and using a multimeter.
• Experience with several of the following: fiberglass, painting, mechanical assembly, CAD, or 3D printing—and an interest in learning the rest.
• The ability to follow drawings and instructions, recognize when something doesn’t fit or look right, and ask questions before proceeding.
• Careful workmanship, dependable follow-through, and a willingness to document what you build.

You don’t need to be an expert in every process on day one. We’re looking for a capable, adaptable builder with strong fundamentals. A college degree is not required.

Especially useful experience

RC aircraft, drones, boatbuilding, automotive fabrication, robotics, theatrical fabrication, industrial design modelmaking, or small-batch manufacturing.

Experience creating jigs, fixtures, wiring diagrams, or assembly instructions is also valuable.

Your first few months

You’ll learn our aircraft and build methods, take ownership of repeatable assemblies, and help improve the tools and instructions used to make them. Success means clean, consistent work that passes inspection and makes the next build easier.

How we work

This is an on-site role with our engineering and production team in Brooklyn. You’ll work closely with engineers and operators, see your work fly, and help shape how Buoyant scales production.

We value simple designs, an organized shop, and practical improvements that save time without sacrificing quality.