SMT Operator
Innovative Circuits Arizona (ICA)
Full-Time | Electronics Manufacturing / PCB Assembly
Position Summary
Innovative Circuits Arizona is seeking a skilled and dependable SMT Operator to join our electronics manufacturing team.
The SMT Operator is responsible for setting up, operating, and monitoring Surface Mount Technology (SMT) equipment used in the assembly of printed circuit boards (PCBAs). This position plays an important role in ensuring our products are manufactured safely, accurately, efficiently, and to the high-quality standards our customers expect.
You'll work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Materials, and Inspection to keep SMT lines running efficiently, complete accurate changeovers, maintain material traceability, identify process issues, and consistently produce quality assemblies.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with electronics manufacturing experience who takes pride in quality workmanship and wants to grow their technical skills in a professional manufacturing environment.
What You'll DoOperate SMT Production Equipment
- Set up, operate, and monitor JUKI SMT equipment according to work instructions, production schedules, and quality requirements.
- Operate equipment such as stencil printers, SPI, pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, conveyors, loaders/unloaders, and AOI systems based on training and experience.
- Verify machine readiness before production, including programs, feeders, tooling, board orientation, solder paste, materials, and consumables.
- Perform product changeovers, feeder loading, board loading, recipe selection, and line startup.
- Maintain efficient production flow while ensuring assemblies meet documented process and workmanship requirements.
Verify Setups & Materials
- Confirm the correct work order, revision, components, stencil, tooling, and documentation before beginning production.
- Verify component part numbers, polarity, orientation, feeder locations, and setup accuracy.
- Maintain proper material and product traceability throughout the manufacturing process.
- Follow line-clearance procedures and maintain proper segregation between jobs, lots, and revisions.
- Properly handle PCBs, electronic components, solder paste, and sensitive materials in accordance with ESD and MSD requirements.
Monitor Quality & Process Performance
- Monitor machine performance, placement accuracy, print quality, board flow, reflow conditions, alarms, and other process indicators.
- Recognize and respond to conditions such as missing or misaligned components, solder paste issues, bridging, tombstoning, feeder problems, and equipment stoppages.
- Support first-article and startup verification as required.
- Work with SPI, AOI, Inspection, Quality, and Engineering personnel to identify and resolve recurring defects.
- Stop production and escalate issues whenever product quality, safety, or process integrity may be at risk.
Maintain Equipment & Work Areas
- Perform routine operator-level cleaning and preventative maintenance according to established procedures.
- Maintain clean, organized, and production-ready SMT lines, feeder carts, workstations, and material areas.
- Accurately record production quantities, downtime, defects, equipment issues, and other required manufacturing data.
- Communicate equipment concerns, material shortages, recurring defects, and production status to supervisors and support personnel.
- Provide clear shift handoffs to help maintain production continuity.
What We're Looking For
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- 1–3 years of SMT, electronics assembly, PCB manufacturing, or related manufacturing experience preferred.
- Experience operating one or more SMT processes or machines, including:
- Stencil printing
- SPI
- Pick-and-place equipment
- Reflow ovens
- AOI
- SMT conveyors and supporting equipment
- Basic understanding of electronic component polarity, orientation, feeder setup, PCB handling, and electronics workmanship.
- Ability to read and follow work instructions, travelers, setup documentation, and visual aids.
- Comfortable using machine interfaces, barcode scanners, computers, and production tracking systems.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to identify abnormal process conditions.
- Dependable, quality-focused, and comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Preferred Experience
Experience in a contract electronics manufacturing (EMS) or high-mix PCB assembly environment is especially valuable.
Additional preferred experience includes:
- ESD and MSD handling procedures
- IPC workmanship standards
- Product changeovers and feeder verification
- Solder paste handling
- First-article or first-piece verification
- SMT process troubleshooting
- AOI/SPI operation or support
- High-mix, low-to-medium-volume electronics manufacturing
Cross-training is encouraged, and team members may have opportunities to develop skills in additional manufacturing processes such as inspection, hand assembly, selective solder, and rework.
What Makes Someone Successful at ICA
We're looking for people who:
- Take ownership of quality
- Pay attention to the details
- Speak up when something doesn't look right
- Work well with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Materials
- Keep their work area organized and production-ready
- Are dependable and committed to the team
- Want to continue learning and developing their manufacturing skills
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and move component reels, boards, materials, and related equipment weighing up to 35 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to perform repetitive hand movements and safely reach, bend, and work around manufacturing equipment.
- Ability to use required PPE and comply with ESD and manufacturing safety procedures.
- Ability to support weekend production when business needs require.
Join Innovative Circuits Arizona
At Innovative Circuits Arizona, quality isn't simply something we inspect at the end of the process—it's something we build into every assembly.
We're looking for people who care about doing the job correctly, supporting their teammates, solving problems, and continuously improving how we manufacture.
If you have SMT or electronics manufacturing experience and are looking for an opportunity to build your skills and grow with a U.S.-based electronics manufacturing team, we'd like to hear from you.
Apply today to join the Innovative Circuits Arizona team.
Pay: $20.00 - $30.92 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- On-the-job training
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
