Smt Technician

This role provides hands-on technical support to engineering, production, and quality teams in a high-precision electronics manufacturing environment. The technician contributes to process implementation and continuous improvement initiatives, builds prototypes and engineering assemblies, and supports the full lifecycle of engineering projects from concept through production. The position focuses on working with detailed electronic assemblies and circuit boards, performing testing, inspection, troubleshooting, and process support activities while maintaining accurate manufacturing documentation and work instructions.

Responsibilities

• Support engineering, production, and quality teams by providing hands-on technical assistance across manufacturing operations.
• Assist with process implementation and continuous improvement projects to enhance efficiency, quality, and reliability.
• Build prototype and engineering assemblies, including detailed electronic assemblies and circuit boards.
• Perform testing, inspection, and troubleshooting activities on circuit boards, PCBAs, and electronic assemblies to ensure product performance and compliance.
• Provide process support activities on the manufacturing floor, including monitoring, adjustments, and documentation updates.
• Create, update, and maintain work instructions and manufacturing documentation to reflect current processes and best practices.
• Support Design of Experiments (DOE) and root cause investigation activities to resolve production issues and improve processes.
• Perform equipment setup, maintenance, repair, and calibration to keep manufacturing and test equipment in optimal operating condition.
• Train and support operators and production employees on proper procedures, equipment usage, and quality standards.
• Support engineering projects from start to finish, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet technical and schedule requirements.
• Work with detailed electronic assemblies and circuit boards using microscopes and cleanroom practices as required.
• Contribute to manufacturing process development efforts, including SMT, pick-and-place, and board handling activities.
• Apply knowledge of SPC, FMEA, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies to improve processes and reduce defects.
• Use SAP, Excel, and Outlook to document work, track production activities, and communicate with team members.

• 8+ years of manufacturing experience preferred, ideally in electronics or SMT environments.
• Experience working with circuit boards, PCBAs, electronic assemblies, and SMT manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on experience in cleanroom environments, following appropriate procedures and protocols.
• Proficiency using microscopes for detailed inspection and assembly work.
• Ability to perform testing, inspection, troubleshooting, and repair on electronic assemblies and circuit boards.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, work instructions, and manufacturing documentation.
• Knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma principles.
• Experience with SMT processes, including board handling, testing, inspection, and pick-and-place operations.
• Strong troubleshooting and technical problem-solving abilities in a manufacturing setting.
• Experience using SAP, Excel, and Outlook for production tracking, data analysis, and communication.
• Eligibility to work on ITAR-controlled projects.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in a technical or manufacturing-related field is preferred.
• Experience supporting engineering projects from concept through production.
• Background in creating and maintaining work instructions and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience participating in DOE and root cause investigations to resolve quality and process issues.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies and participation in improvement projects.
• Comfort working closely with operators and production staff to provide training and process support.

Work Environment

The role is based in a high-precision electronics manufacturing environment that includes cleanroom areas and workstations equipped for SMT and circuit board assembly. Work frequently involves detailed tasks using microscopes and handling small electronic components, requiring strong attention to detail and adherence to cleanliness and process controls. The technician interacts regularly with engineering, production, and quality teams and uses tools such as SAP, Excel, and Outlook to manage data and communication. Equipment setup, maintenance, repair, and calibration are part of the daily environment, along with active participation in testing, inspection, and troubleshooting activities. The setting emphasizes safety, quality, and continuous improvement, with structured procedures and documentation guiding the work.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $32.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: * Medical, dental & vision * Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital * 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available * Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) * Short and long-term disability * Health Spending Account (HSA) * Transportation benefits * Employee Assistance Program * Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.