Maintenance Engineer - SMT

We are seeking an SMT Maintenance Engineer to join a client in Milpitas. This is a full-time, direct hire position.

The Maintenance Engineer is responsible for ensuring the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of manufacturing equipment supporting SMT, Wave Soldering, and Conformal Coating operations. This role partners closely with Production, Process Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to maximize equipment uptime, improve process stability, and support operational excellence in a high-volume electronics manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate brings strong hands-on experience maintaining automated electronics manufacturing equipment within a Contract Manufacturing (CM/EMS) environment and possesses expertise in electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and controls troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment Maintenance & Reliability

• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities on production equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and control system issues.
• Respond rapidly to equipment failures and implement solutions that minimize production downtime.
• Conduct routine inspections to identify and address potential equipment failures before they impact operations.
• Maintain detailed maintenance records, work orders, inspection reports, and equipment history documentation.
• Support root cause analysis (RCA) activities and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.

Manufacturing Equipment Support

• Provide technical support for SMT, Wave Soldering, and Conformal Coating equipment.
• Ensure equipment is properly configured, calibrated, and maintained to meet manufacturing process requirements.
• Support equipment installations, commissioning activities, upgrades, modifications, and continuous improvement projects.
• Collaborate with operators, technicians, vendors, and engineering teams to optimize equipment performance.
• Identify opportunities for automation, process improvements, and reliability enhancements.

Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and execute scheduled maintenance plans using CMMS systems.
• Monitor equipment performance metrics and drive initiatives to improve uptime and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Manage spare parts inventory and ensure critical components are available to support production requirements.
• Participate in new product introduction (NPI) activities and recommend best practices to ensure manufacturing readiness.
• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with safety regulations, company policies, customer requirements, and quality standards.

Technical Expertise

SMT Equipment

• Pick-and-Place Machines
• Screen Printers
• SPI (Solder Paste Inspection)
• AOI (Automated Optical Inspection)
• Reflow Ovens
• PCB Conveyors and Material Handling Systems

Wave Soldering Equipment

• Solder Pot and Heater Systems
• Wave Pumps and Nozzles
• Flux Application Systems
• Nitrogen Delivery Systems

Conformal Coating Equipment

• Dispensing Systems
• Pumps and Pressure Regulators
• Material Delivery Lines and Filters
• UV Curing Systems
• Coating Head and Nozzle Maintenance

Electrical & Controls

• AC/DC electrical troubleshooting
• Control system diagnostics
• Use of multimeters, clamp meters, and other electrical test equipment
• Interpretation of electrical and mechanical schematics

CMMS & Maintenance Systems

• Preventive Maintenance Scheduling
• Work Order Management
• Equipment History Tracking
• Spare Parts Management
• Downtime Analysis and KPI Reporting
• SOP and Maintenance Procedure Development

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electronics, Mechatronics, Industrial Technology, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience will also be considered.
• 7+ years of maintenance engineering experience within the electronics manufacturing industry.
• Strong hands-on experience supporting SMT, Wave Soldering, and Conformal Coating equipment.
• Proven experience troubleshooting electrical, mechanical, and automation-related equipment issues.
• Experience working with CMMS systems for maintenance planning and documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting high-volume electronics manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Reliability-Centered Maintenance methodologies.
• Experience with equipment automation, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 quality management systems.

Critical Requirement

Hands-on experience in a Contract Manufacturing (CM) or Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) environment is required. Candidates without direct CM/EMS manufacturing experience will not be considered.