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Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company

Manufactures high-reliability payload release systems

Engineering Technician

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026Deadline 11/1/26
No salary listed
Entry
Bachelor's
Graham, KY, USA
In PersonOccasional off-site travel may be required.
Manufacturing & Process EngineeringManufacturing Engineering
Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or general education degree and a minimum of 15 college credit hours; or approximately five years of related manufacturing experience and/or training; or military service/training in related fields; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Responsibilities
  • Provide daily hands-on support to Engineering or other personnel.
  • Assist Product Engineers with designing, developing, and validating processes for safely producing products that meet Technical Data Package requirements.
  • Assist Product Engineers with Process Hazard Analysis in accordance with Process Safety Management procedures.
  • Support or lead Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews with guidance from a Product Engineer.
  • Provide input during requirements reviews of Technical Data Packages.
  • Provide input during design-for-manufacturability reviews.
  • Assist with the design and layout of new or modified production cells and processes.
  • Specify, design, procure, and/or fabricate equipment, tooling, fixturing, and assembly aids for production processes with Product Engineer guidance.
  • Assist Product Engineers with product testing and troubleshooting equipment or process failures.
  • Perform production tasks that may include mixing, casting, extrusion, pressing, testing, loading, assembly, and packaging for assigned products.
  • Create, update, and maintain manufacturing documentation with Product Engineer guidance, including Manufacturing Instructions, Process Specifications, Inspection Plans, and Packaging Instructions.
  • Train producers to work within processes as described in manufacturing documentation.
  • Perform production-cell setup and changeovers.
  • Participate in continuous-improvement activities such as kaizen.
  • Learn and use lean manufacturing tools with Product Engineer guidance, including creating and maintaining Standard Work packages, problem solving, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, and developing process mistake-proofing methods.
  • Enter and analyze data on product or process characteristics.
  • Perform inspections and other checks to verify conformance to requirements.
  • Participate in significant projects, such as construction and new-facility startup.
  • Assume additional responsibilities necessary to achieve company goals.
  • Travel off-site occasionally as required.
Desired Qualifications
  • Mechanical aptitude.
  • Ability to interpret basic engineering drawings and specifications.
  • Knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
  • Experience using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or other computer-aided design software.
  • Computing skills using Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, Zoom, Project, and Visio.
  • Experience with basic laboratory procedures, such as wet chemistry, environmental testing, and reporting test results.
  • Computer numerical control programming and machining experience.
  • Experience with laboratory equipment, including precision weight scales, graduated cylinders, and calipers or micrometers.

About the company

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Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company

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Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense provides high-reliability payload release and spacecraft deployment solutions for space and defense missions. Its main products, Multi Point Payload Release Mechanisms (PRM) and Hold Down Release Mechanisms (HDRM), are precision mechanical systems that hold payloads securely during launch and release them on command to enable safe satellite deployment. The company differentiates itself with decades of aerospace heritage dating back to 1836, plus tailored engineering, rigorous testing, and strong collaboration with government and private sector clients to ensure safety and performance. The goal is to deliver dependable, proven hardware that helps customers achieve mission success while supporting STEM education and community initiatives.

Company Size

N/A

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Simsbury, Connecticut

Founded

N/A

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • January 2026 Falcon 9 Twilight mission proved PRM9103 flight success.
  • March 2026 Navy MK8 order and January 2026 MK68 sourcing show sticky demand.
  • EBAD's 2026 hiring and Top Workplace status signal continued production expansion.

What critics are saying

  • Beyond Gravity's 2024 suit exposed pricing leverage fights tied to Amazon Kuiper deliveries.
  • EBAD's customer concentration in NASA, SpaceX, and Navy programs ties revenue to few winners.
  • A failed Artemis III, PRM9106, or Kuiper qualification cycle would crush credibility.

What makes Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company unique

  • EBAD's NEA heritage still wins sole-source DoD awards in 2026.
  • Artemis II validated EBAD separation hardware across NASA's 2026 lunar mission.
  • PRM family spans 150-kilogram to 2,000-kilogram spacecraft, unlike narrow-point competitors.

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Benefits

  • Professional Development Budget
  • Health Insurance
  • Paid Vacation

Company News

Ebad
Sep 3rd, 2026
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Simsbury-based aerospace manufacturer honored for 190 years of innovation and its critical role in NASA's h...

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Simsbury-based aerospace manufacturer honored for 190 years of innovation and its critical role in NASA's historic Artemis II mission. SIMSBURY, Conn. - September 1, 2026 - Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD) was inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame yesterday at the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Lisa Brown, EBAD's Market Segment Director for Launch Vehicles, accepted the honor on behalf of the company. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal presented the induction, with Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer Kirti Patel also in attendance. The induction recognizes EBAD's 190-year manufacturing legacy in Simsbury, dating back to 1836 and William Bickford's invention of the safety fuse, as well as the company's role as a critical supplier on NASA's Artemis II mission. Hardware designed and built by EBAD performed successfully throughout Artemis II, the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years. During the nearly 10-day mission, which launched April 1, 2026, four astronauts traveled approximately 1.4 million miles, reaching a record distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before safely returning home. EBAD engineered the critical separation hardware that helped separate Orion's Crew Module from its Service Module, a crucial step ahead of the astronauts' return to Earth. "From the same Simsbury factory where this all began, we are honored to be recognized alongside Connecticut's most iconic manufacturing innovators," said Lisa Brown, Market Segment Director for Launch Vehicles, EBAD. "This induction belongs to every EBAD employee, past and present, whose precision and dedication have helped carry Connecticut manufacturing from mining safety caps to the Moon and beyond." The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum, presented by Connecticut Office of Manufacturing, brought together manufacturers, educators and state leaders to explore the technologies, strategies and workforce solutions shaping the industry's future. EBAD served as an event sponsor alongside RBC Bearings, Trumpf, CLA and Raymond James, with Fox61 as media partner. Founded in 2014, the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame honors Connecticut's manufacturing and innovation legacy, celebrating a state that has served as a birthplace of innovation for more than 350 years - from the helicopter and the nuclear submarine to the first spacesuit worn on the Moon. americanmanufacturinghof.com