Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Sheet Metal Worker Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Sheet Metal Worker Assistant is an early-career manufacturing role supporting fabrication and assembly of sheet metal components used in jet and aerospace applications. Working under the supervision of certified sheet metal technicians and lead fabricators, the assistant performs material handling, basic machine set-up and operation, deburring, finishing, and in-process inspection while adhering to aerospace quality controls, safety procedures, and blueprint specifications. This position focuses on learning precision sheet metal techniques (cutting, bending, drilling, riveting) and gaining hands-on experience with tools and equipment common to jet component production, including shears, brakes, punches, rivet guns, pneumatic tools, and basic CNC/laser workflows.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Manufacturing assembler or production operator transitioning into sheet metal work
General metal fabricator helper or maintenance assistant
High school graduate from a technical/trade program (sheet metal, manufacturing technology)

Advancement To:

Sheet Metal Worker / Journeyman Fabricator (aerospace)
CNC Operator / Press Brake Operator
Aircraft Structural Technician or Aerospace Assembler

Lateral Moves:

Quality Inspector (QC)
Materials Handler or Inventory Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist in reading and interpreting blueprints, engineering drawings, and work orders to prepare sheet metal parts for jet and aerospace assemblies, ensuring correct dimensions, tolerances, and material specifications.
Cut and lay out materials using band saws, shears, laser cutters, or manual tools under supervision, ensuring minimal material waste and compliance with specified grain direction and material orientation.
Set up and operate manual and semi-automatic press brakes and bending machines to form simple flanges, hems, and bends, following bend allowances and tooling instructions from lead technicians.
Support CNC laser or plasma cutting operators by preparing nests, loading/unloading sheets, and verifying cut parts against print dimensions for accuracy.
Deburr, file, grind, and finish edges on cut parts using hand tools and power grinders to meet aerospace edge quality and safety requirements.
Drill, countersink, and ream holes to tolerance using drill presses and hand tools, and prepare fastener holes for rivets and bolts to aerospace specifications.
Assist in riveting, clinching and fastening operations using pneumatic rivet guns and bucking bars, ensuring proper rivet set and head formation per process documentation.
Clean and prepare part surfaces for assembly and welding, including application and removal of temporary protective coatings or masking where required.
Help align and tack components in jigs and fixtures for final assembly, following standard work instructions and maintaining part orientation consistent with serialized assemblies.
Perform in-process inspections using calipers, micrometers, protractors, and go/no-go gauges, documenting measurements and tagging non-conforming items for corrective action.
Support technicians with basic MIG/TIG welding ground preparation and post-weld cleanup when required, following appropriate certification limits and under direct supervision.
Identify and report defects, dimensional discrepancies, and potential safety hazards to leads and quality personnel, participating in root cause investigations when assigned.
Record production data, time stamps, and material usage in manufacturing logs or ERP systems, ensuring traceability for serialized jet parts and lot-controlled materials.
Assist with surface finishing operations such as sanding, polishing, and application of protective primers or corrosion inhibitors in accordance with process specifications.
Follow and enforce shop safety rules, wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), and participate in toolbox talks, lockout/tagout, and other safety programs specific to aerospace manufacturing.
Participate in basic maintenance and cleaning of machines and tools, including daily checks of tooling condition, lubrication points, and removal of swarf to maintain equipment reliability.
Support kitting and pre-assembly operations by selecting, staging, and delivering correct parts and fasteners to assembly stations, ensuring kits are complete and labeled.
Aid in dimensional verification of incoming materials and subcontracted components, flagging discrepancies and assisting purchasing or receiving teams with quarantine procedures when necessary.
Assist in training tasks for new hires or apprentices by demonstrating basic shop practices, safe tool usage, and correct handling of sheet metal materials.
Follow established change control and documentation procedures when processing engineering revisions, ensuring updated prints and material callouts are used in fabrication.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by providing feedback on workflows, suggesting tooling changes, and supporting small kaizen projects to reduce touchpoints and rework.
Support final packaging and shipping activities for completed components, ensuring protection against damage and correct labeling for traceability in aviation logistics.

Secondary Functions

Maintain organized workstations and tool cribs, ensuring tools and consumables are stored, labeled, and returned after use.
Assist with inventory counts of raw materials, fasteners, and consumables; report low stock levels to supervisors and help replenish kitted materials.
Help document non-conformances and corrective actions in the quality system, and support follow-up inspections after rework.
Support shop housekeeping, waste segregation, and recycling programs for scrap metal, ensuring compliance with environmental and shop policies.
Collaborate with production planners to help prioritize jobs, provide status updates, and assist in meeting daily or weekly production targets.
Participate in safety audits and pre-shift inspections, and help implement corrective items under guidance of the safety lead.
Assist engineers and senior technicians with prototype mock-ups and simple fixture validation under supervision.
Support cross-functional teams (quality, engineering, shipping) during product transitions or line changeovers to ensure continuous production.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Blueprint reading and ability to understand geometric tolerancing, bend lines, hole charts, and material callouts.
Proficiency with hand tools and basic power tools used in sheet metal work: snips, files, deburring tools, pneumatic rivet guns, drills.
Experience operating press brakes and knowledge of bend allowance, simple tooling set-up, and safe press operation.
Competence in basic machine setup and safe operation of cutting equipment (shears, band saws, laser/oxy-cutting support).
Familiarity with drilling, countersinking, reaming, and preparing fastener holes to aerospace tolerances.
Ability to perform basic dimensional inspection using calipers, micrometers, depth gauges, and protractors; basic metrology understanding.
Knowledge of common sheet metal materials (aluminum alloys, stainless steel, titanium) and appropriate handling for aerospace components.
Experience with deburring, finishing, and surface prep techniques to meet corrosion control and cosmetic standards.
Basic understanding of rivet types, blind fasteners, and mechanical fastening methods common in aircraft structures.
Experience with reading and following standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and quality checklists.
Familiarity with shop math (fractions, decimals, basic geometry) for layout and measurement tasks.
Basic exposure to CNC/lazer workflows (loading sheets, part verification) and willingness to learn CAM/nesting basics.
Familiarity with safety procedures such as lockout/tagout, confined space awareness, and proper PPE for sheet metal shops.

(Include at least 10 of the above technical competencies for immediate relevance.)

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to precision; consistently inspects own work and follows quality checklists.
Excellent teamwork and collaboration with technicians, engineers, and quality personnel on the production floor.
Good verbal communication to report issues, ask clarifying questions, and read/process work orders.
Reliability and strong work ethic: punctual, able to maintain focus during repetitive tasks and meet production targets.
Problem-solving mindset with ability to escalate technical issues appropriately and suggest practical improvements.
Adaptability to shifting priorities, changing drawings, and variable production schedules in an aerospace environment.
Time management and organization to maintain tidy work areas, meet deadlines, and support line flow.
Commitment to safety culture, actively participating in safety briefings and adhering to established protocols.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (required).

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate or technical diploma in sheet metal fabrication, aerospace manufacturing, welding, or related trade.
Completion of a recognized apprenticeship program or community college coursework in manufacturing technologies.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Sheet Metal Technology
Aerospace Manufacturing Technology
Welding and Fabrication
Industrial Maintenance / Manufacturing Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0 to 3 years in sheet metal, metal fabrication, or a related manufacturing environment. Entry-level candidates with hands-on vocational training are encouraged.

Preferred:

1–2 years of experience in sheet metal fabrication or aerospace component production, including familiarity with rivets, fabrication tooling, and basic inspection techniques.
Experience in an aerospace or regulated environment (FAA/AS9100 processes) is a plus.