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Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company

Manufactures high-reliability payload release systems

Process Operator

Full-TimePosted on 10/21/2026
No salary listed
Entry
Graham, KY, USA
In Person
Manufacturing & Production OperationsMachine & Process Operation
Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • Solve basic arithmetic problems and apply them to real-life situations.
  • Read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
  • Communicate effectively in written and verbal form.
  • Perform arithmetic using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
  • Use common-sense understanding to carry out written, oral, or diagram-form instructions.
  • Visualize plant and personnel loading requirements and determine priorities to meet customer demands.
  • Cope with frequent change and distractions.
  • A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required.
  • Previous manufacturing experience is preferred.
  • Stand and walk regularly; use hands and fingers to assess product quality, operate controls, and use tools.
  • Perform basic maintenance or adjustment of process equipment in some areas.
  • Have the hearing ability needed to determine proper equipment sounds, and near and far focus, color, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
  • Move, roll, and lift objects routinely, including items up to 140 pounds; shipping containers up to 240 pounds and material drums over 150 pounds are routinely moved. Assistance is provided for items exceeding certain limits.
  • Focus on and complete tasks with occasional distractions.
  • Use required personal protective equipment in all process areas and maintain required attendance.
Responsibilities
  • Operate process equipment as directed to meet customer demand.
  • Understand and carry out safety, quality, capacity, and continuous-improvement practices for processes in the assigned area; when trained, become proficient in the assigned manufacturing area, with the objective of proficiency across all areas.
  • Improve operational safety and quality while reducing waste and costs.
  • Assemble, inspect, and package products before shipment to customers.
  • Set up and operate process equipment efficiently, including changing over products and troubleshooting quality and productivity issues.
  • Operate equipment safely and productively according to standard work while maximizing quality and throughput.
  • Accurately document in-process activity and maintain legible records and documentation.
  • Inspect own products and others’ products objectively and take corrective action as needed.
  • Communicate with customers about product quality issues, developments, or improvements.
  • Assist in training new operators or other personnel on new or changed procedures.
  • Maintain a clean and organized assigned work area and participate in safety programs.
  • Work as an integral member of the operations team and perform additional duties assigned by supervision.
  • Work near moving mechanical parts and equipment, with explosives and energetic materials, and indoors with occasional heat or cold exposure; use personal protective equipment as required.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous manufacturing experience.

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