Technician III - Bencher

Date: Jun 15, 2026

Location: El Cajon, CA, US

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

 

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Responsibilities

•    Performs bench operations including removal of surface material, deburring, and breaking sharp edges to achieve specified finishes and tolerances.
•    Uses pneumatic and hand tools to complete rough, final, and complex benching operations.
•    Measures and verifies dimensions using precision instruments such as micrometers, calipers, gauges, C-frames, pins, and ultrasonic equipment.
•    Executes advanced finishing techniques and supports development of job instructions when required.
•    Performs complex rework and repair of parts and components to meet customer specifications.
•    Conducts grit blasting, sanding, and steam cleaning processes as part of finishing operations.
•    Identifies and evaluates patterns and determines appropriate material removal methods prior to processing.
•    Performs drilling, assembly of rivets and brackets, trimming, and paint touch-up as required.
•    Masks parts by applying tape, plugs, or other materials to protect surfaces and features per specifications.
•    Assists in tooling fabrication, performs basic tooling maintenance, and completes first-level maintenance tasks.
•    Maintains accurate records associated with maintenance and production activities.
•    Collaborates with manufacturing and quality engineers and follows established processes and instructions.
•    Interprets blueprints, schematics, and work instructions to ensure accurate execution of tasks.
•    Understands and follows part flow throughout the manufacturing process.
•    Mentors and trains lower-level technicians as needed.
•    Maintains a clean work environment, including assigned storage and cleaning responsibilities, in full compliance with company standards, customer requirements, and government regulations.
•    Assists in supporting business goals related to cost, quality, process, schedule, and people.
•    Ensures compliance with safety policies and environmental regulations.
•    Fully complies with company policies regarding government contracting requirements.
•    Performs other duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Summary

Under limited supervision, independently performs assembly, forming, finishing, material removal, inspection, rework, and repair of components and parts in accordance with customer specifications. Utilizes hand and power tools, gauges, and measuring instruments to achieve required tolerances. Supports tooling fabrication and maintenance, ensures quality standards, and maintains a clean, safe work environment in compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

Job Qualifications

•    High school diploma or GED
•    3+ years of experience in manufacturing.
•    Must be able to read blue prints, schematics and diagrams.
•    This job role requires proficiency in English, both verbal and written, that is sufficient to understand and effectively follow written safety procedures, company policies, work instructions, operations manuals, and more in a manufacturing environment.
•    Reliable and satisfactory attendance is an essential job function of this role and is critical in meeting operations and business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

•    GKN Experience 
•    Experience performing complex benching, rework, and repair operations.
•    Knowledge of troubleshooting safety, quality, and technical issues in collaboration with engineering and quality teams.
•    Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
•    Experience working in a repetitive production environment with focus on cost, quality, and schedule requirements.
•    Familiarity with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and compliance.

Compensation Range

The compensation range for this positing is between $28.00 - $32.00

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further.  And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

 

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

 

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN.  We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute.  It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’.  By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology. ​


Nearest Major Market: San Diego