Grote Electronics is a leading manufacturer of vehicle lighting and safety systems. All work focuses on delivering quality and value to our customers, both internal and external. The entire organization will engage in continual ongoing effort to improve processes by eliminating waste in everything we do. Effective communication of our quality objectives and an environment built on teamwork and continuous improvement will lead us to success.

**Position:**Surface Mount Technology Technician - Aft

**Reports to:**Senior Electronic Manufacturing Engineer

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Electronic Manufacturing Engineer, The SMT Technician is responsible for the complete Surface Mount Technology (SMT) process, ensuring high quality PCB assembly through expert setup, programming, operation, optimization, and troubleshooting of SMT equipment. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical knowledge of SMT processes, exceptional problem solving skills, customer service mindset, and the ability to support manufacturing teams in a fast paced environment.

Primary Responsibilities

1. PCB Preparation & Laser Marking

• Operate and program laser marking systems to apply traceability codes on PCBs according to customer and internal specifications.
• Verify mark quality and alignment to ensure compliance with traceability and quality standards.

1. Material Staging & Setup

• Support preparation and staging of all materials required for SMT production including feeders, reels, trays, stencils, and support tooling.
• Validate material accuracy, lot codes, and shelf life requirements for solder paste and moisture sensitive components.

1. Tooling Development

• Design and develop stencils, including technology selection, aperture reductions, thickness specification (multi-steps if needed), specify need of nano coating.
• Create and specify printing support plates, including vacuum or non vacuum tooling depending on PCB geometry and process stability needs.
• Collaborate with tooling suppliers when required.

1. Solder Paste Printing

• Generate and optimize printing programs on DEK and EKRA printers.
• Adjust parameters including squeegee pressure, speed, separation speed, and alignment strategies.
• Ensure consistent solder deposition through continuous monitoring and verification.

1. Solder Paste Inspection (SPI)

• Create and optimize SPI programs for Koh Young and ASM Process Lens systems.
• Interpret SPI data and implement corrective actions to improve print quality and reduce defects.

1. Pick & Place Programming

• Develop optimized placement programs using Siplace PRO.
• Perform clustering, commonization, or sequence optimization to reduce cycle time and enhance throughput.
• Validate component orientation, centroid data, and nozzle selection for robust process performance.

1. Reflow Profiling

• Develop reflow oven profiles based on solder paste specifications, material thermal mass, and component sensitivity.
• Analyze thermal data to ensure correct soak, reflow, and cooling segments.
• Maintain control of reflow process windows for both leaded and lead free assemblies.

1. Equipment Maintenance

• Perform preventive maintenance on laser, solder paste printers, SPI, pick and place, reflow ovens and handling equipment to ensure optimal uptime.
• Conduct corrective maintenance activities and troubleshoot equipment issues to minimize downtime.
• Maintain maintenance logs and ensure equipment is operating within specification.

1. Downtime Monitoring & Root Cause Analysis

• Track SMT downtime and identify recurrent or systemic issues.
• Conduct root cause analysis using structured methods (5 Why, Fishbone, etc.).
• Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to drive improvements and eliminate sources of failure.

1. Manufacturing Support & Communication

• Provide timely, customer focused support to production operators and supervisors.
• Assist in training staff on equipment handling and process controls.
• Maintain a positive, collaborative atmosphere within the manufacturing environment.

1. Documentation Development

• Create and maintain documentation such as work instructions, procedures, setup guides, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent and repeatable processes across the SMT line.

Qualifications

Education

• Graduate of Electronics Technician, Electronics Engineering Technician, or related technical program.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of hands on experience working directly with SMT production lines.
• Experience with DEK, EKRA, Koh Young, ASM, and Siplace PRO strongly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of the entire SMT process.
• Strong ability to develop programs, tooling, and setup process parameters.
• Knowledge of solder paste behavior, PCB materials, component types, and reflow metallurgy.
• Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC A 610, J STD 001).

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Customer service mindset when supporting production teams.
• Ability to work in a team while maintaining a calm and positive work environment.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and documentation capabilities