Manufacturing Technician - SMT Lead

Description
Patton is seeking a hands‑on SMT Lead Operator & Manufacturing Engineer who will own our SMT cell end-to‑end—planning, programming, setup, operation, quality, and continuous improvement. This player‑coach role leads daily SMT production and drives process engineering including oven profiling, documentation, DFM, routings/BOM integrity, and equipment maintenance strategy.

Description
Patton is seeking a hands‑on SMT Lead Operator & Manufacturing Engineer who will own our SMT cell end‑to‑end—planning, programming, setup, operation, quality, and continuous improvement. This player‑coach role leads daily SMT production and drives process engineering including oven profiling, documentation, DFM, routings/BOM integrity, and equipment maintenance strategy.

• Plan and execute daily SMT schedule; organize kitting, feeder setup, first-article builds, and line changeovers.
• Operate and oversee stencil printer, pick-and-place, reflow, AOI, and stencil cleaning per manufacturer guidance and Patton procedures.
• Perform first-article inspection, AOI review/verification, and in-process checks to IPC-A-610 standards.
• Train and mentor operators/technicians; enforce ESD, safety, and 5S.

• Develop and maintain SMT processes including solder paste selection, print parameters, placement optimization, reflow profiling, and AOI programming.
• Generate and maintain work instructions, setup docs, and process control plans; drive DFM with Design Engineering.
• Specify, program, and improve automated equipment; define preventive maintenance and calibration plans.
• Establish and sustain standards/routings in ERP and ensure BOM/routing alignment.
• Lead root-cause/corrective action for defects and drive yield/cycle-time improvements.

• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and IPC-A-610/IPC-WHMA-A-620.
• Support NPI transfers, build readiness reviews, and configuration control.

• 3+ years in automated electronics assembly with SMT programming/operation.
• Proficiency with stencil print, placement, reflow profiling, and AOI.
• Strong soldering/inspection skills to IPC-A-610; capable of basic SMT rework.
• Experience with work instructions, routings, and ERP systems.
• Ability to lead operators while performing hands‑on work.

• Bachelor’s in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Hands‑on DFM experience, panelization, and capability studies.
• Knowledge of IPC-A-610/IPC-WHMA-A-620 and ISO 9001.

• Player-coach mindset, data-driven, strong ownership, and cross-functional communication skills.

• On-site manufacturing; standing for extended periods; handling small components; lifting up to 30 lbs.