Manufacturing Technician - SMT Lead

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.

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.