R&D Technician in Denver, Colorado at Urban Sky

About Urban Sky

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup on a mission to pioneer humanity’s routine, easy access to the stratosphere and the value locked within it. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems. The data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of War (DoW), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis.

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment.

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and Texas and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members.

About the role / Onsite / Full-time / Hourly

Urban Sky manufactures one-of-a-kind stratospheric balloons and payloads from start to finish in our facility in North Denver. These balloons are made of a unique airtight fabric and involve long continuous seams. Making balloons involves patterning, seaming, adhesive bonds and some light mechanical work adjoining plastic fittings to the balloons. The balloons are very lightweight and relatively small compared to other stratospheric balloons, but quite large when compared with things like clothing and outdoor equipment. Urban Sky is searching for an R&D Technician responsible for developing and executing tests on prospective and existing materials to improve our products.

The candidate will work with the R&D engineering team and the manufacturing team to define tests, develop test procedures, document results, select & assemble test equipment, operate test equipment, general lab upkeep, cleaning, and maintenance. This role will also periodically involve working with the broader technician and engineering team to support assembly and test of lab equipment, test hardware, and prototype hardware.

Key Responsibilities

• Write assembly instructions and test procedures
• Document build & test results and anomaly reports
• Fabricate & assemble prototype and test articles
• Soft goods testing, including but not limited to permeability, adhesive fabric bond quality, tensile strength / mechanical property evaluation, environmental & climactic, thermal, optical, and degradation testing
• Prototyping and iteration of prototype articles based on test results and engineering input
• Provide support in the kitting and assembly process
• Cross-functional and cross-organizational collaboration
• Follow a project schedule and prioritize build tasks
• Inventory management
• Maintain tooling and test equipment

Required Qualification

• 3+ years of experience in an engineering technician role
• Comfortable with iteration and ambiguity in early-stage development
• Able to stand, walk, and stoop; push, pull and lift or lower objects weighing up to 50 lbs
• Able to work under adverse conditions (e.g., dirty or noisy spaces)
• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Nice-To-Haves

• Aerospace and/or start-up experience
• Have followed and provided input to assembly and test documentation, including assembly instructions, test procedures and anomaly reports
• Parts ordering and basic inventory management for tools and parts
• Soft goods experience is a plus
• Electrical test experience is a plus

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• 15 days paid leave, plus paid holidays.
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend.

Urban Sky is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.