SMT Engineer

Job Description

SMT Engineer (Surface Mount Technology)

**Location:** Manistee, MI

**Department:** Engineering

**Reports To:** Engineering Manager

Position Overview

The SMT Engineer plays a critical role in supporting a high-volume Surface Mount Technology (SMT) manufacturing environment, producing a wide range of PCBA products. This position serves as a key liaison between Design, Operations, and Quality to ensure products are manufacturable, cost-effective, and meet all quality and compliance standards.

This role is heavily focused on New Product Introduction (NPI), prototype development, and successfully transitioning products into full-scale production. The ideal candidate brings strong hands-on SMT experience and thrives in a fast-paced, continuous improvement-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

NPI \& Process Development

* Lead SMT NPI efforts from prototype through production release
* Participate in Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews of PCBAs, BOMs, and processes
* Develop process flows, stencils, tooling, and fixturing for new product builds
* Plan and execute prototype builds, ensuring quality, traceability, and on-time delivery
* Capture and communicate lessons learned from prototype runs

Manufacturing \& Production Support

* Support the transition of new products into production with optimized processes
* Program SMT equipment for prototype and NPI builds
* Troubleshoot process and equipment issues using root cause analysis
* Partner with Maintenance to ensure equipment uptime and reliability

Quality \& Compliance

* Ensure all builds meet quality, traceability, and regulatory requirements
* Support internal, customer, and third-party audits
* Maintain accurate technical documentation, reports, and records

Collaboration \& Communication

* Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams
* Interface with equipment vendors for implementation and ongoing support
* Present technical findings, updates, and recommendations to stakeholders

Required Qualifications

* 10 years of experience in SMT manufacturing (printing, placement, reflow, AOI, ICT)
* Strong hands-on experience in high-volume production environments
* Proven troubleshooting and root cause analysis expertise
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
* Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles

Preferred Qualifications

* 5 years of NPI engineering experience
* Experience with SMT equipment such as:
* Promation CO2 Laser Marker
* GKG solder paste printers
* Omron SPI/AOI systems
* Juki pick-and-place machines
* Reflow ovens and conveyors
* Functional test systems (e.g., Keysight)
* Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical experience

Compensation \& Benefits

* **Salary:** $80,000 -- $110,000 (based on experience)
* Bonus eligibility
* Medical, Dental, Vision, and supplemental insurance
* 4--5 weeks PTO