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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Electronics Manufacturing Technician

💰 $40,000 - $70,000

ManufacturingElectronicsAssemblyQuality AssuranceProduction

🎯 Role Definition

The Electronics Manufacturing Technician is a hands-on production professional responsible for assembling, testing, inspecting, troubleshooting, and documenting electronic circuit assemblies and electromechanical products in a manufacturing environment. This role requires strong soldering and rework skills (SMT and through‑hole), familiarity with IPC-A-610/J-STD-001 standards, proficiency with inspection tools (AOI, X‑ray, microscopes), and the ability to execute functional and in-circuit tests using fixtures, bench instruments and automated test equipment. The ideal candidate contributes to process improvement, maintains ESD and safety compliance, supports NPI builds, and collaborates with engineering and quality teams to meet production, yield, and on-time delivery targets.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Electronics Assembler or Production Assembler with basic soldering experience
  • Field Service Technician, Cable/Wire Harness Assembler, or Military electronic technician
  • Technical school graduate with certificate in Electronics Technology or PCB assembly

Advancement To:

  • Senior Electronics Manufacturing Technician / Lead Technician
  • Test Engineer or Process Engineer (NPI)
  • Production Supervisor or Manufacturing Engineer
  • Quality Engineer (IPC/J-STD lead) or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Inspector / Quality Technician (ISO/IPC focus)
  • Calibration Technician or Equipment Maintenance Technician
  • SMT Setup/Programming Specialist (pick-and-place / reflow oven)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform high-quality PCB assembly using surface-mount (SMT) and through-hole soldering techniques, adhering to IPC‑A‑610 and J‑STD‑001 workmanship standards to ensure defect‑free boards for high-volume production.
  • Operate, set up, and monitor pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, solder wave machines and selective soldering equipment; perform line changeovers and machine tuning to optimize throughput and yield.
  • Execute manual soldering and precision rework using soldering irons, hot-air rework stations, BGA rework systems and microscopes to repair and rework assemblies to specification.
  • Conduct first article builds and New Product Introduction (NPI) assemblies, validate assembly processes, and provide feedback to design and process engineering to ensure manufacturability and reliability.
  • Perform in-circuit test (ICT), functional test, boundary-scan, and system-level verification using test fixtures, automated test equipment (ATE), power supplies, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers to validate electrical performance.
  • Operate automated optical inspection (AOI), X‑ray inspection systems and visual inspection stations; detect and document solder defects, component placement issues, tombstoning and solder bridging.
  • Read and interpret engineering drawings, PCB layouts, schematic diagrams, BOMs and work instructions to accurately place components, trim leads and complete assemblies per process travelers.
  • Implement ESD control procedures and maintain workstations, wrist straps, mats and ESD documentation to protect sensitive electronic components throughout the manufacturing flow.
  • Perform incoming component verification, count and inventory checks, and kitting for production runs while following Kanban and MRP/ERP inventory control practices.
  • Execute build-to-print assembly tasks including cable and wire harness assembly, connector insertion, potting, conformal coating and mechanical assembly to complete product builds.
  • Troubleshoot intermittent failures and systematic defects using root cause analysis tools (5 Whys, fishbone) and provide corrective action recommendations to engineering and quality teams.
  • Record production data, test results, nonconformance reports and production metrics in shop floor systems (MES, SAP, NetSuite) and support continuous improvement metrics tracking.
  • Calibrate and inspect hand tools and bench equipment per scheduled maintenance procedures and coordinate with maintenance for complex equipment repairs to minimize downtime.
  • Support firmware flashing, configuration, and validation of programmable devices at the bench or via automated programming stations as part of functional test and final assembly.
  • Follow and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), travelers and work instructions; propose revisions based on process improvements, defect trends, or new product requirements.
  • Participate in failure analysis, cross-functional troubleshooting, and corrective action implementation after field returns or test failures to improve product quality and reduce warranty claims.
  • Maintain a clean, safe and organized work environment by enforcing 5S principles, PPE use and manufacturing safety protocols to meet ISO 9001 and company safety standards.
  • Train, mentor and qualify new technicians on assembly processes, soldering techniques, inspection criteria and test procedures to build bench competency and standardize workmanship.
  • Support production scheduling, prioritize builds, and perform short-notice builds or rush jobs while balancing quality and delivery commitments in fast-paced manufacturing environments.
  • Collaborate with engineering, procurement and quality on component substitutions, alternate parts, and BOM clarifications to prevent production delays and ensure engineering change order (ECO) compliance.
  • Execute environmental and process controls for conformal coating and solvent use, including cure profiles, inspection criteria, and associated safety documentation to ensure reliability.
  • Monitor key process indicators (KPIs) such as yield, test coverage, first-pass yield and scrap rates; drive continuous improvement projects to increase throughput and reduce defects.

Secondary Functions

  • Provide detailed inputs during process validation, capability studies and PFMEA activities to strengthen manufacturing readiness and risk mitigation.
  • Assist quality and compliance teams during internal and external audits by providing process documentation, work instructions and evidence of IPC/J‑STD training.
  • Support engineering with spare parts and prototype builds, offering practical manufacturability feedback that shortens time-to-market for new products.
  • Prepare and maintain handover documentation for shifts, including open defects, in-progress builds and pending rework to ensure continuity of production.
  • Participate in cross-functional Kaizen events, root cause workshops and continuous improvement initiatives to improve cycle time and reduce direct labor.
  • Maintain training records, certifications and qualifications; coordinate IPC and safety recertification courses as required by policy or regulation.
  • Assist in validating new production fixtures, jigs and tooling; provide practical insights to design teams to improve ergonomics and process consistency.
  • Support customer-specific packaging, labeling and final inspection requirements for outbound shipments and maintain traceability records for serialized products.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • IPC‑A‑610 acceptance criteria and J‑STD‑001 soldering standards — demonstrated ability to inspect and rework to IPC levels.
  • Proficient manual soldering and SMT rework (including BGA and QFN) with hot-air stations, soldering irons and microscopes.
  • Experience operating pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, wave/ selective soldering equipment and AOI/X‑ray inspection systems.
  • Test execution skills: in-circuit test (ICT), functional test, programming/flashing firmware, boundary-scan and use of test fixtures/ATE.
  • Proficiency with bench instruments including digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies and logic analyzers for debugging and validation.
  • Reading and interpreting schematics, PCB layouts, BOMs, assembly drawings and traveler documents for accurate build-to-print assembly.
  • Knowledge of ESD control programs, 5S, Lean manufacturing principles and ISO 9001/TS compliance frameworks.
  • Experience with MES/MRP/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, Oracle) for work orders, lot tracking and production reporting.
  • Ability to perform root cause analysis and use corrective action tools (8D, 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams) to resolve quality issues.
  • Familiarity with conformal coating, potting, cable harness assembly and basic mechanical assembly techniques.
  • Basic PLC and automation troubleshooting skills, plus the ability to work with machine technicians for setups and preventive maintenance.
  • Strong documentation skills for maintaining SOPs, process change requests and traceability logs.

Soft Skills

  • High attention to detail with strong manual dexterity and steady hand coordination for precision assembly and inspection.
  • Problem-solving mindset and analytical thinking to troubleshoot electrical and assembly failures efficiently.
  • Effective verbal and written communication for cross-functional collaboration with engineers, quality, and production planners.
  • Team-oriented approach and ability to mentor junior technicians while also working independently under minimal supervision.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to meet tight production schedules and multi-product workflows.
  • Adaptability to changing production demands, new product introductions and continuous process improvements.
  • Accountability and ownership for product quality, documentation accuracy, and meeting regulatory requirements.
  • Customer-focused attitude when supporting product builds for external customers or certification testing.
  • Continuous learning orientation to maintain certifications and keep pace with evolving manufacturing technologies.
  • Strong organizational skills for inventory control, tool calibration tracking and adherence to process documentation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED with relevant hands-on experience in electronics assembly and test.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or technical diploma in Electronics Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, or Manufacturing Technology.
  • Certifications such as IPC‑A‑610, J‑STD‑001, or equivalent soldering and inspection certifications are highly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Electronics Technology / Electronic Assembly
  • Electrical Engineering Technology
  • Mechatronics or Industrial Maintenance Technology
  • Manufacturing Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of direct electronics assembly, test, inspection or rework experience in a volume production environment.

Preferred:

  • 2–5 years experience with PCB assembly (SMT and through‑hole), AOI/X‑ray inspection, and functional/in‑circuit test procedures.
  • Prior experience with NPI projects, ERP/MES systems, IPC/J‑STD certifications, and demonstrated continuous improvement contributions.
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