Hardware Lab Technician (410-1)

Materials Workshop Technician

Position Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Materials Workshop Technician to lead hands-on machining, fabrication, and failure analysis within our materials workshop. Unlike a traditional machinist, this individual will combine expert tool operation with a fundamental understanding of metallurgy to identify, analyze, and correct manufacturing issues. You will be instrumental in the prototyping phase and the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of hardware components.

Key Responsibilities

• Precision Machining: Perform hands-on metal machining operations including skiving, CNC operation, and manual machining.
• Metallurgical Preparation: Execute high-quality cross-sectioning and polishing of metal samples for microscopic inspection and analysis.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Conduct failure analysis on common IT industry metals (e.g., Copper, Aluminum, Stainless Steel) to determine why a part or process failed.
• Process Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve fundamental manufacturing issues related to machining, brazing, and surface treatment operations.
• Hardware Innovation: Work closely with engineers to bridge the gap between design and physical production, ensuring manufacturability and reliability of thermal, mechanical components.

Required Qualifications

• Technical Expertise: Proven experience in metal machining and fabrication techniques (CNC, skiving, brazing & bonding, etc.).
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to understand the why behind material failures or process deviations.
• Materials Knowledge: Familiarity with the properties and behaviors of copper, aluminum, and stainless steel.
• Problem-Solving: Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting manufacturing processes like diffusion bonding, brazing, and surface finishing.

Ways to Stand out from the Crowd

• Experience with Failure Analysis (FA) tools and methodologies.
• Knowledge of heat transfer hardware (e.g., heat sinks, cold plates) and their common failure modes.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and CAD models.