Hardware Technician

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health, sustainability and beyond exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from disease detection and treatment and nature-positive agriculture to novel applications of AI that are driving the creation of new technologies.   

What sets Flagship apart is our ability to advance science and technology by uniting innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet.   

Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. 

THE ROLE

We are seeking a hands-on Hardware Technician to join our small engineering team. This is a critical build and fabrication role supporting the design, assembly, and testing of advanced systems across both our aerial platform and ground-based hardware. You will work on precision mechanical and kinetic engineering challenges — from custom airframe structures and integration of high-performance subsystems to the development of specialized ground equipment and deployment infrastructure. This role demands someone who can move fluidly between detailed fabrication work (CNC machining, 3D printing, composite layup, wiring) and systems-level assembly, all while maintaining exacting standards in a fast-moving, prototype-heavy environment. You will be the technical backbone enabling our engineering team to iterate rapidly, test boldly, and translate concepts into field-ready hardware.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assemble, wire, and test mechanical design structures and subsystems, including composite and foam structures;
• Fabricate and test custom mechanical components using CNC machining, 3D printing (FDM and SLA), hand tooling, and composite lay-up techniques, working from engineering drawings and CAD files (STEP, DXF, STL);
• Support R&D of mechanical and kinetic designs of custom fixtures, actuation mechanisms, and specialized equipment enclosures;
• Build and assemble wiring harnesses, power distribution systems, low-voltage subsystems, and electronic subassemblies;
• Troubleshoot mechanical failures and fabrication issues, making real-time decisions to resolve problems and maintain build schedules;
• Maintain shop equipment, manage parts inventory, and track component status to ensure smooth build workflows and on-time hardware availability;
• Inspect finished assemblies for quality, dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and compliance with engineering specifications using precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges, CMM as needed);
• Collaborate with engineering leads to optimize designs for manufacturability, cost, and field reliability; provide feedback on feasibility and manufacturing constraints early in the design cycle;
• Document fabrication processes, maintain build logs, and capture lessons learned to establish repeatable manufacturing procedures and support scaling;
• Support field deployment preparation including equipment packing, pre-deployment validation testing, and, when needed, traveling to campaign sites to provide on-site technical support.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

• Associate’s degree, vocational/trade certification, or equivalent hands-on training in mechanical technology, manufacturing technology, electronics, or a closely related discipline; extensive practical experience may substitute for formal credentials.
• 2–5 years of hands-on fabrication and assembly experience in a manufacturing, prototyping, R&D, or machine shop environment;
• Demonstrated proficiency with CNC machining operations (setup, feeds and speeds, tool selection, workholding, G-code basics); experience with manual lathes or mills is a plus;
• Experience with FDM 3D printing including slicing, material selection, print troubleshooting, and post-processing; familiarity with Fusion 360 or similar CAD/CAM software;
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T callouts, and assembly documentation; familiarity with precision measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, depth gauges);
• Experience with electronics assembly, soldering, wiring harnesses, and basic electrical troubleshooting;
• Comfortable working in a small, fast-moving startup environment where priorities shift quickly and resourcefulness is as important as technical skill;
• Organized and detail-oriented, with a track record of maintaining clean shop environments, clear parts logs, and accurate build documentation;
• Prior exposure to aerospace/defense prototyping environments, RC plane building or unmanned aircraft, atmospheric instrumentation, PCB prototyping, and assembly is a significant plus;
• A builder’s mindset — someone who takes pride in the quality and reliability of what they make, and is energized by the challenge of building hardware that will be deployed in demanding real-world environments.

LOCATION: Boulder, CO

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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The salary range for this role is $61,000 - $77,100. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Protocos currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Protocos's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.