Lead Production Technician in Hood River, Oregon at Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corporation

ANPC is a global supplier of precision approach guidance and area surveillance solutions aimed at improving the safety and capacity of civil and military aviation for customers on all seven continents. Our transponder-based solutions are designed to serve airfields where others cannot. We are a team of extraordinary professionals working together to perform an important mission to uniquely serve airports with terrain, obstacles and other challenges that no other business can provide.

As the Lead Production Technician, you will serve as the primary floor contact to support other technicians, ensure workflow efficiency, and collaborate closely with the Production Operations Manager.

In this role, you will guide the production team in assembling and testing various elements of ANPC’s Transponder Landing System (TLS). In this hands-on leadership role, you will perform complex mechanical assemblies, sub-system work, and complete systems integration. You will oversee component testing (both bench and environmental chambers), component-level troubleshooting, and performance documentation.

Location: Full-time, in-office | Hood River, Oregon (Not remote eligible)

Reports To: Production Operations Manager

• Direct daily floor operations by assigning work, monitoring task completion, and managing bottlenecks to ensure the team meets production schedules.

• Act as the technical point of contact for the production team; provide hands-on guidance, training, and troubleshooting assistance to junior technicians.

• Serve as the primary bridge between the production floor and the Production Operations Manager, providing regular status updates on throughput, quality issues, and material shortages.

• Perform mechanical assembly work using a variety of hand tools (wrenches, drivers, sockets, etc.).

• Test electrical and mechanical assemblies using a variety of test equipment.

• Troubleshoot and repair digital and analog circuits, including hand soldering of parts.

• Write and edit test and assembly procedures.

• Conduct quality control inspections of incoming materials and assembled parts.

• Repair assembly errors noted by quality control personnel, or on parts returned from customers.

• Travel to customer sites for the installation / integration of TLS or TTLS systems.

• Perform full range of maintenance on company products, including on-site troubleshooting, installation, removal, retrofit, and/or preventive maintenance.

• Associate degree in electronics, two years of college education in an engineering discipline, or related field, or equivalent military technical school training. Relevant, extensive job experience may be substituted for formal education.

• 5+ years of manufacturing experience (aerospace or aviation industry preferred), with demonstrated experience informally leading, mentoring or coordinating peer technicians.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating daily production workflows, assigning tasks, and ensuring a team of technicians meets scheduled output and quality targets.

• Experience training, mentoring, and onboarding technicians on complex mechanical assemblies, precision soldering, and test procedures.

• Proven ability to act as the primary communication link between floor technicians and the Production Operations Manager—effectively reporting status, resolving bottlenecks, and escalating floor issues.

• Proficient with PCBA soldering, including Surface Mount Technology (SMT).

• Proficient with standard test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, etc.) and conducting detailed quality inspections on mechanical assemblies.

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts (proportions, percentages, area, circumference, volume) and apply basic algebraic concepts.

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft software.

• Experience using Sage 100/MAS 100 or an equivalent manufacturing ERP system (such as NetSuite, Epicor, JobBOSS, SAP or Syspro) to track inventory, manage work orders, and log production data.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to read, interpret, and author technical documents (drawings, schematics, work orders, contracts) and interface positively with management, employees, and clients.

• Strong organizational skills, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task under tight production schedules.

• Background in RF circuitry or fiber optics is a plus.

• Prior knowledge of or certification in IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 is highly preferred.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job in an office and manufacturing environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential functions may require maintaining the physical condition necessary for sitting, walking or standing for periods of time; operating a computer and keyboard; talk and hear at elevated room levels; using hands to finger, grasp, and feel; repetitive motion; close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; lift, push, carry, or pull up to 20 pounds. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally. Ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach throughout the day. Visual acuity to read inventory labels, shipping documents, and computer screens. Ability to operate standard warehouse equipment (e.g., pallet jacks, carts) safely.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job in an office and manufacturing environment. This position operates out of the Production area, production areas may experience moderate to high noise levels due to machinery, equipment, and packaging processes. Hearing protection may be required in designated areas. Temperature in the warehouse may vary with seasonal conditions and may not be climate-controlled. The employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, forklifts, carts, pallet jacks and other typical hazards of an industrial setting; appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn as required.

Due to the sensitive nature of the information and projects handled at this facility, this position requires U.S. citizenship. Candidates must be U.S. citizens to be considered for this role.

In addition to base pay, our competitive total rewards package consists of:

• 401(k) plan with match, with 100% vesting immediately.

• Comprehensive suite of insurance benefits for employees (and their families) to include a variety of medical plan options (including an HSA with employer contribution), dental, vision, life and disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Legal/Identity support plans, pet insurance.

• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (medical, transit and Dependent Care).

• Generous paid time off including 4 weeks of vacation per year.

• 11 paid company holidays, which includes a winter company shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s.