Quality Technician - SMT Service & Repair

About the role

The Quality Technician supports day-to-day quality activities for an SMT/PCBA manufacturing facility supporting server and rack manufacturing, service, and repair operations. This role performs manufacturing quality control, incoming material inspection, in-process and final inspection, laboratory testing, quality data collection, and basic failure analysis activities. The technician works closely with Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, SQE, and other cross-functional teams to ensure materials and products meet applicable drawings, specifications, workmanship standards, and quality requirements. The position requires a hands-on individual who can follow established procedures and Quality Engineer instructions while independently performing routine inspection and testing activities.

Responsibilities

• Manufacturing Quality Control
  • Perform routine quality inspections and manufacturing quality control activities throughout the SMT/PCBA production process
  • Support SMT, DIP/through-hole, assembly, testing, repair, and pack-out quality activities as required
  • Conduct in-process and final inspections according to drawings, specifications, work instructions, control plans, and workmanship standards
  • Monitor manufacturing quality conditions and identify workmanship or process abnormalities
  • Support First Article Inspection (FAI), First Piece Inspection, trial builds, NPI builds, and process qualification activities
  • Identify, document, segregate, and escalate nonconforming materials and products
  • Support containment, sorting, re-inspection, and verification activities when quality issues occur
• Incoming Quality Control (IQC)
  • Perform incoming inspection of materials and components according to inspection procedures and sampling requirements
  • Inspect mechanical parts, PCB/PCBA materials, electronic components, connectors, cables, thermal/mechanical components, and other production materials as applicable
  • Perform dimensional and visual inspection using appropriate inspection and measurement equipment
  • Verify supplier documentation, part identification, labeling, packaging, workmanship, and material condition
  • Record inspection results and support disposition of nonconforming incoming materials
  • Assist SQE/Quality Engineering with supplier quality investigations and material-related issues
• Laboratory Testing & Measurement
  • Perform laboratory testing and measurement activities by following approved procedures, test methods, or Quality Engineer instructions
  • Operate common quality laboratory and inspection equipment such as microscopes, digital microscopes, measuring tools, gauges, dimensional measurement systems, and other applicable test equipment
  • Prepare samples and specimens for inspection, measurement, testing, and failure analysis
  • Accurately record test conditions, results, observations, measurements, and supporting photos/data
  • Maintain appropriate traceability of samples and test records
  • Support Quality Engineers with validation, reliability, and failure analysis testing
• SMT / PCBA Quality Support
  • Perform visual inspection of PCBAs for soldering, component placement, polarity/orientation, contamination, damage, and workmanship issues
  • Familiar with common SMT/PCBA defects such as solder bridging, insufficient/excess solder, opens, tombstoning, misalignment, damaged components, contamination, and handling damage
  • Support inspection activities involving AOI, X-ray, microscope, or other inspection equipment where applicable
  • Support quality verification of repaired/reworked PCBAs and service-return products
  • Follow ESD and proper electronic component handling requirements
• Quality Documentation & Data
  • Accurately complete inspection reports, test records, checklists, and quality documentation
  • Enter and maintain quality inspection/test data in applicable systems or databases
  • Support NCR/nonconformance records, defect tracking, and quality issue documentation
  • Collect data for quality metrics, defect trends, yield analysis, and process improvement activities
  • Maintain inspection and laboratory records in accordance with document control requirements
• Quality System & Continuous Improvement
  • Follow applicable Quality Management System procedures and work instructions
  • Support internal, customer, and external audit preparation when required
  • Participate in root cause investigations and corrective/preventive action activities under Quality Engineering direction
  • Support 5S, continuous improvement, and quality improvement activities
  • Escalate abnormal quality conditions promptly and provide accurate supporting data

Qualifications

• High school diploma or technical/vocational education; associate degree preferred
• Minimum 4 years of quality inspection, electronics, relevant manufacturing quality experience, preferably in electronics, SMT, PCBA, server, rack, or related manufacturing
• Basic understanding of manufacturing quality control and inspection methods
• Experience using common measurement and inspection tools
• Ability to read drawings, specifications, work instructions, and inspection criteria
• Basic computer skills and ability to accurately enter inspection/test data
• Ability to follow established test procedures and engineering instructions
• Good attention to detail and willingness to perform hands-on inspection and laboratory work
• Stronger experience with incoming, in-process, final inspection, and/or laboratory testing
• Able to independently perform routine inspections and tests with limited supervision
• Able to recognize quality abnormalities and provide initial assessment/data to Quality Engineering
• Experience supporting FAI, NPI/trial builds, nonconformance investigations, containment, or failure analysis is preferred
• Experience coaching or providing technical guidance to junior technicians is desirable

Skills

• Preferred Technical Skills
  • SMT/PCBA manufacturing and workmanship inspection
  • Incoming Quality Control (IQC)
  • IPC workmanship standards, particularly IPC-A-610
  • ESD controls and electronic component handling
  • Reading mechanical drawings and engineering specifications
  • Basic GD&T knowledge
  • Digital microscope / optical inspection
  • Vernier calipers, micrometers, height gauges, pin gauges and other measuring tools
  • CMM or optical dimensional measurement systems
  • X-ray or AOI inspection
  • Solder joint inspection
  • Sample preparation and basic failure analysis
  • Basic electrical measurement/testing
  • Quality sampling and inspection plans
  • NCR/nonconforming material control
  • Basic understanding of 5-Why, Fishbone, 8D, SPC, and root cause analysis
  • Microsoft Excel and basic quality data analysis
• Key Competencies
  • Strong attention to detail and quality awareness
  • Hands-on technical and problem-solving ability
  • Ability to follow written procedures and engineering instructions
  • Good observation and defect-recognition skills
  • Accurate documentation and record keeping
  • Ability to handle multiple quality activities based on production priorities
  • Effective communication with Quality, Engineering, Production, and Supplier Quality teams
  • Willingness to learn new inspection, laboratory, and measurement equipment
  • Ability to work independently on routine assignments and escalate issues appropriately
  • Flexible and comfortable working in a multi-function quality technician role