Junior Character Designer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Junior Electronics Repair Technician troubleshoots and repairs Wanco's printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), control boxes, and character display cards — nearly all pin-through-hole with non-BGA IC packages, which makes this an excellent hands-on environment for someone building foundational bench skills. This is a true entry-level role: you'll come in with basic electronics fundamentals and a willingness to learn, and you'll be trained on the job in soldering, workmanship standards, and test equipment — including the multimeter and, as you progress, the oscilloscope. Wanco invests in a structured path from Junior Technician to full Electronics Repair Technician, with growing responsibility and pay as your skills develop.

Key Responsibilities

•      Troubleshoot and repair returned or failed PCBAs, control boxes, and character display cards down to the component level, using schematics, wiring diagrams, and documented test procedures.

•      Use a multimeter to test voltage, continuity, resistance, and basic component function as the primary first-line diagnostic tool.

•      Learn and apply oscilloscope basics under guidance — observing waveforms and signal timing — to diagnose intermittent or timing-related faults as skills develop.

•      Perform visual inspection of solder joints, component placement, and board condition against Wanco workmanship standards (aligned to IPC-A-610).

•      Desolder and resolder pin-through-hole components — resistors, capacitors, connectors, ICs, relays — using proper hand-soldering technique.

•      Test repaired boards and units against functional test procedures before they're returned to stock or shipped to the field.

•      Document failure findings, root cause, and repair actions accurately in the repair log or tracking system.

•      Escalate complex, unfamiliar, or recurring failures to senior technicians or engineering rather than guessing — knowing when to ask is part of the job.

•      Maintain a clean, organized, ESD-safe workbench and follow proper ESD handling procedures for all board-level work.

•      Follow all safety procedures when working around line voltage, capacitors requiring discharge, and powered test equipment.

•      Support new product testing, pilot builds, and engineering prototype troubleshooting as assigned.

Skills Required at Hire

This is a trainee-level position. Wanco is looking for aptitude and the right habits more than a finished skill set — the qualifications below reflect what's genuinely needed on day one.

•      Basic understanding of electronic/electrical theory (Ohm's law, voltage/current/resistance, series vs. parallel circuits, AC vs. DC).

•      Ability to read, or quickly learn to read, basic wiring diagrams and schematics.

•      Basic hand tool proficiency (screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers, small hand tools).

•      Comfortable with, or trainable on, basic multimeter measurements (voltage, continuity, resistance).

•      Some prior soldering exposure is a plus (hobbyist projects, coursework, military) but is not required — proper technique will be trained.

•      Strong attention to detail and a methodical, patient troubleshooting mindset.

•      Ability to follow written procedures, documentation, and safety instructions accurately.

•      Basic computer literacy for data entry into work order or repair-tracking systems.

•      High school diploma or GED.

Skills Developed Through Training & Career Growth

Wanco trains junior technicians deliberately rather than expecting them to arrive fully formed. The skills below are built through structured on-the-job training, mentorship from senior technicians, and hands-on repetition — they are what separate a Junior Technician from a Technician II, not a hiring bar.

•      Formal soldering technique and workmanship training aligned to IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies) and J-STD-001 (soldering) standards, including advanced through-hole rework and multi-pin connector desoldering.

•      Oscilloscope operation — probing, triggering, and waveform interpretation — progressing from guided use to independent diagnosis of timing and signal-integrity faults.

•      Schematic-level root cause analysis on Wanco's proprietary board designs, moving beyond symptom-level fixes to understanding why a failure occurred.

•      Deep familiarity with Wanco's product-specific control systems, including message board and light tower controllers and character display card architecture.

•      Working knowledge of microcontroller-based boards and how to isolate hardware faults from firmware issues, in partnership with engineering.

•      ESD control program practices and, over time, contributing to keeping the program current.

•      Use and basic calibration awareness of test fixtures and jigs used in functional test.

•      Mentoring newer technicians once proficient, and eventually taking point on training the next hire.

Career Development Path

Progression is skills-based, not tenure-based — a motivated technician can move through these stages faster with strong performance and initiative.

0–6 months

Multimeter diagnostics, visual inspection, guided repairs on common/known failure modes, basic soldering rework under supervision.

Multimeter (primary); oscilloscope observation only, alongside a senior technician.

6–18 months

Independent repair of most PCBA/control box/character card failures; IPC-aligned soldering proficiency; documentation ownership.

Multimeter (independent); oscilloscope with growing independence for basic waveform checks.

18+ months

Complex/intermittent fault diagnosis, schematic-level root cause work, mentoring junior hires, input into new product test procedures.

Multimeter and oscilloscope used independently as primary diagnostic tools; eligible for Technician II.

Preferred Qualifications

•      Completion of a vocational or technical electronics program, or military electronics training (not required, but a plus).

•      Prior hobbyist, coursework, or military exposure to soldering and basic circuit troubleshooting.

•      Familiarity with hand tools and basic multimeter use gained outside a professional setting.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

•      Bench-based work at an ESD-safe workstation in a manufacturing/repair environment.

•      Extended periods sitting or standing at a workbench, with repetitive fine-motor tasks (soldering, small component handling).

•      Ability to lift up to 25–35 lbs (control boxes, boards, panels, test units).

•      Exposure to soldering fumes (with proper ventilation/fume extraction) and moderate shop-floor noise.

What Wanco Offers

This role is designed as a genuine on-ramp into an electronics career, not just an entry-level job. You'll get structured mentorship, hands-on repetition on real hardware that ships to customers nationwide, and a clear path toward more advanced diagnostic work as your skills grow. Because most of Wanco's boards are pin-through-hole rather than BGA, this is also a strong place to build the kind of fundamental, hands-on troubleshooting skills that transfer well across the industry. Wanco offers a competitive compensation package based on experience, along with benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Wanco, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Reporting: This position reports to the Electronics Repair Lead, and has no direct reports

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full Time, Hourly

Salary Range: $22-$25 per hour based on qualifications.

Benefits: Insurance (Medical, Dental, Life, 401k). Paid time off and holidays.

Wanco Inc. Address: 5870 Tennyson Street, Arvada, CO 80003 | wanco.com

Wanco is the industryʼs leading manufacturer of highway safety and traffic control products. Innovation and new product development have made us what we are, and will continue to carry our reputation forward, well into the future.

Wanco provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.