Materials Associate – Warehouse | Costa Mesa/ Santa Ana CA | Fastwater Staffing

📍 Location: Santa Ana / Costa Mesa, CA
📄 Employment Type: 6-Month Contract, with potential for conversion to full-time
🏢 Work Arrangement: On-site
🚀 Start Date: TBD
💰 Compensation: TBD — based on skills and experience

Important Screening Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must be able to work 1st or 2nd shift, including overtime as needed.
• Must be able to work on-site in Santa Ana or Costa Mesa, CA; local candidates are preferred.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must be comfortable using a computer to enter inventory transactions and communicate through tools such as Slack.
• Must have proficient spoken and written English.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, as shifts may change based on business needs.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance; an active Secret or Top Secret clearance within the last five years is preferred.

About the Role

We are seeking Materials Associates to join a high-volume warehouse and materials team supporting operations across the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa locations.

This role is responsible for the movement, organization, tracking, and shipment of materials, parts, assemblies, and finished products. The ideal candidate is not simply an experienced warehouse operator but someone who is reliable, detail-oriented, curious, and comfortable identifying ways to improve processes.

You will work across shipping and receiving, inventory control, material movement, production support, and warehouse operations while maintaining a strong focus on inventory accuracy and timely material flow.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who can combine hands-on warehouse experience with strong attention to detail and critical thinking. Experience with inventory control, cycle counting, WMS/ERP systems, or lot/serial/batch tracking is highly valuable.

The team values candidates who are adaptable, dependable, comfortable learning new systems, and willing to question and improve existing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Process shipping and receiving activities at the Santa Ana and/or Costa Mesa locations as needed.
• Prepare finished stock for shipment by:
  • Identifying and pulling products
  • Packing and crating materials
  • Labeling shipments
  • Loading and securing products
• Accurately transact the movement of materials between company sites.
• Pull orders from inventory and deliver production materials and supplies where needed.
• Stage finished products for final distribution.
• Complete cycle counts and other warehouse activities with inventory accuracy as a top priority.
• Maintain inventory by identifying and labeling materials and supplies.
• Record and maintain accurate inventory locations.
• Identify and report inventory shortages.
• Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material-handling equipment as applicable.
• Move materials onto and off trucks and loading docks.
• Courier inventory between the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa locations as needed.
• Expedite the movement of materials, parts, and assemblies within or between departments based on production and shipping schedules.
• Support a fast-paced warehouse environment while maintaining accuracy, safety, and organization.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as a warehouse associate or in an equivalent role.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to work 1st or 2nd shift and overtime as needed.
• Ability to work on-site in Santa Ana or Costa Mesa, CA.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Comfortable working with computers and entering inventory transactions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to inventory accuracy.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to prioritize tasks efficiently and effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ year of forklift experience and forklift certification/license.
• Experience working in the defense or aerospace industry.
• Experience with ERP systems, WMS, or inventory management platforms.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office or similar productivity tools.
• Experience with lot, serial, or batch tracking.
• Experience packaging and handling hazardous shipments.
• Experience with inventory control and cycle counting.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve warehouse and material-flow processes.
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance within the last five years.
• Experience working in environments where priorities and work shifts may change based on business needs.

Shift Information

• 1st Shift: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
• 2nd Shift: 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM
• 2nd shift is currently the greater need.
• A Tuesday–Saturday shift is expected to become available shortly.
• Candidates should be prepared to indicate their preferred shift during the screening process.

Screening focus: In addition to warehouse experience, prioritize reliability, critical thinking, curiosity, inventory accuracy, adaptability, and willingness to improve processes.