Process Technician

Pilot Line / New Product Development — Fiber Optic Manufacturing

Responsibilities:

• Set up, run, and monitor pilot line and prototype process systems during development and qualification runs
• Collect, log, and report process and performance data; work with engineers to analyze results and identify issues
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues; perform maintenance and adjustments to keep systems running
• Assemble and test systems and sub-assemblies during builds and rebuilds
• Perform precision inspection and measurement, including optical/vision inspection systems (e.g., Keyence)
• Support equipment and process validation and qualification activities with clean, audit-ready documentation
• Work side-by-side with the engineering team daily, providing structured feedback on system performance

Requirements:

• Hands-on technician or hands-on engineering background in precision manufacturing, product development, or R&D/lab environments
• Experience running and monitoring process, test, or lab equipment — ideally in pilot, prototype, or development settings
• Mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills — you diagnose problems, not just report them
• Experience collecting and reporting data during testing, validation, or qualification
• Clear communication and comfort working directly with engineers in a fast-iterating environment
• Local to the Twin Cities area and able to work onsite in Shakopee daily

Preferred Skills:

• Optical/vision inspection (Keyence or similar) and metrology tools — calipers, micrometers, CMM, vision systems
• Validation/qualification experience (IQ/OQ/PQ) or regulated-environment discipline (GMP, QMS, SOPs)
• Fiber optics, photonics, connectors, or other micro-precision assembly experience
• Exposure to custom automation equipment or cleanroom environments

Why This Role:

• Ground floor of a new manufacturing process on a high-visibility, well-funded program
• Demand driven by AI data center growth — one of the strongest growth stories in manufacturing today
• Daily collaboration with design engineers; your feedback shapes the machines, the process, and the product
• Hands-on, technical, varied work — no two days on a pilot line are the same