Manufacturing Technician (Chemical, CMM, Operations, Optical, Quality)
General Dynamics Mission Systems · Cullman, AL
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Quality
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level quality role at General Dynamics Mission Systems (aerospace & defense) in Cullman, AL.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, GD&T, Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $52k–$75k.
Median of the low and high ends of 31 live postings that list pay, out of 554 quality technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Alabama plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 14 other live quality postings in Alabama.
- Experience asked
- Typical (3+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 53%
- ✓ Root cause 27%
- FDA / GMP 20%
- ✓ GD&T 20%
- ✓ Tooling 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at General Dynamics Mission Systems
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: General Dynamics Mission Systems in Cullman
2 other open roles at this site.
- CNC Programmer · Manufacturing · Technician
- Senior Quality Technician · Quality · Technician
Full description from General Dynamics Mission SystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
Associate’s degree in a related field or the equivalent is required. In addition, a minimum of 3 years of directly related experience is required. J-STD_001, 002, IPC 610, MIL-STD-883, MIL-STD-750 and X-Ray qualification certifications may be required. CLEARANCE
Requirements
Applicants selected may be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility
requirements
for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.
Responsibilities
for this Position
Developing mission-critical systems that help keep people safe is what we do. At General Dynamics Mission Systems, you’ll be part of the team that helps heroes make a true impact. The work we do is important. The challenges we face are career-defining. The opportunity we can offer is one-of-a-kind. We apply advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers’ missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar and everything in between.
Help make the technologies, products and services that make a difference. That’s the opportunity that’s waiting for you at General Dynamics Mission Systems. We help our nation’s heroes keep our nation safe by creating solutions so advanced they redefine innovation for the world. It’s an amazing challenge. And it’s waiting for you now.
We apply advanced technologies such as artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers’ missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar and everything in between.
Schedule
There are multiple shifts and schedules in this facility.
We are looking for the following roles: see below for more details on each.
- ◆Chemical Technicians
- ◆CMM Technicians
- ◆Manufacturing Operation Technicians
- ◆Optical Technicians
- ◆Quality Technicians
Chemical Technicians
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Support chemical processing operations including chemical etching, surface treatment, media blasting, plating, anodizing, thermal cycling/heat treatment, masking, and clean and pack
- ◆Monitor and maintain process parameters to ensure consistency and product quality
- ◆Prepare and maintain accurate records, logs, and technical reports
- ◆Support internal and external audits and inspections
- ◆Follow all safety protocols for handling hazardous chemicals
- ◆Properly label, store, and dispose of hazardous materials in accordance with regulations
- ◆Communicate test results and process anomalies clearly and promptly
- ◆Work closely with engineers, quality assurance teams, and program managers
- ◆Support continuous improvement initiatives and root cause analysis activities
CMM Technicians
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Operate CMM equipment to perform precise measurements of machined parts
- ◆Program CMM machines using appropriate software (e.g., PC-DMIS, Calypso)
- ◆Interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and GD&T symbols to determine measurement
requirements
- ✓Conduct first article inspections, in-process inspections, and final inspections to verify product compliance
- ✓Document and report inspection results, including any deviations or non-conformances
- ✓Collaborate with machinists and engineers to troubleshoot and resolve quality issues
- ✓Maintain and calibrate CMM equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability
Manufacturing Operations Technicians
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Measures work piece with instruments such as electronic gauges and optical light, compares work piece dimensions with specifications to ascertain amount of stock to be removed and evaluates types of compounds, diamonds, and laps or material needed to achieve required specifications and setup
requirements
- ✓Prepares and conditions surface of lap to achieve proper geometric form and tolerance per print and/or sketch
requirements
- ✓Applies compound to work piece and rubs lap across work piece with rotary or reciprocating motion, feeling friction and applying required pressure based on previous experience to attain specified tolerances
- ✓Measures workpiece to verify conformance to specifications
- ✓Design and draw sketches for tooling and laps to complete task required
- ✓Promote continuous product improvement by conceptualizing and implementing new procedures
Optical Technicians
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Ability to grind and polish various types of metals or glass to tight surface flatness, surface quality and surface finish tolerances
- ◆Ability to use precision measuring equipment to
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Basic
Preferred Skills
- +Knowledge of hazardous materials handling and waste management procedures
- +Good understanding of chemicals (acids, bases, oxidizers, flammables, reducers, water reactives) in a variety of forms (liquids, solids, gases, sludges, slurries) and related incompatibilities to prevent undesirable chemical reactions
- +Ability to read blueprints, sketches, and drawings
- +Adaptability in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
Preferred Skills
- +Proficiency in CMM programming software (e.g., PC-DMIS, Calypso)
- +Strong understanding of metrology, engineering drawings, and GD&T
- +Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills
Preferred Skills
- +Ability to work from blueprints, advanced drawings, process sheets and sketches to perform hand deburring, lapping, and polishing operations with precision, quality, and safety
- +Experience and ability to routinely use a microscope
- +Ability to maintain a high level of craftmanship
- +Mechanical aptitude
Preferred Skills
- +Hands-on experience with precision hand tools and optical handling techniques
- +Strong attention to detail and commitment to workmanship quality
- +Ability to work from blueprints, advanced drawings, process sheets and sketches to perform manufacturing operations with precision, quality, and safety
- +Analytical and problem-solving skills; able to troubleshoot and resolve issues in a quick, effective manner