Trainee Electronic Component Engineer Jobs Near Me

SMT Operator/Assembler

Avcom SMT, Inc. — Westerville, OH

Full-time | On-site

Pay: $22–$27/hr, depending on experience

Company Overview

Avcom SMT, Inc. is an electronics manufacturing company specializing in printed circuit board assembly, quick-turn prototyping, rework, modification, and repair. We support industrial, commercial, and military electronics customers with complex builds ranging from low-volume prototypes to scalable production manufacturing. Our team is known for hands-on customer support, quality workmanship, and the ability to help customers solve challenging assembly and manufacturing problems.

Schedule & Benefits

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Overtime may be available and may occasionally be required based on production schedules and customer needs
• Flexible day-shift scheduling options based on business needs
• Flexibility to adjust hours when needed for personal scheduling needs
• Fully employer-paid individual health insurance available after 90 days of employment
• Dental, vision, life, and disability insurance available
• Paid time off
• Stable, on-site position in Westerville, OH

Role Description

Avcom SMT is seeking a full-time SMT Operator/Assembler to support surface mount electronics production at our Westerville, OH facility. This role is responsible for setting up, operating, and monitoring SMT equipment used to assemble printed circuit boards, including stencil printers, pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, and related production equipment.

The ideal candidate has experience in electronics manufacturing, SMT assembly, machine operation, or a strong hands-on production background with the ability to learn quickly. This position requires attention to detail, careful material verification, and the ability to follow work instructions, bills of materials, assembly drawings, and quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and monitor SMT production equipment, including pick-and-place machines, solder paste printers, reflow ovens, and board washing equipment.
• Load feeders and verify components against bills of materials, work orders, customer documentation, and internal work instructions.
• Confirm correct part numbers, polarity, orientation, package sizes, feeder locations, and component quantities before and during production.
• Monitor machine operation and identify placement issues, misfeeds, missing components, alignment problems, or other process concerns.
• Inspect printed circuit board assemblies before, during, and after SMT processing using visual inspection tools, magnification, and/or microscopes.
• Perform hand placement and manual adjustments as needed.
• Assist with first-piece checks, in-process inspection, and production documentation.
• Communicate discrepancies in BOMs, drawings, component markings, work instructions, or machine programs to the Production Manager or designated lead.
• Follow IPC workmanship standards, company quality procedures, safety requirements, and customer-specific requirements.
• Support quick-turn prototype builds, low-volume production, and higher-volume manufacturing as needed.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Work collaboratively with production, quality, engineering, and management personnel to meet customer deadlines and quality expectations.

Required Qualifications

• Previous experience in SMT operation, electronics assembly, machine operation, or a similar hands-on manufacturing role.
• Ability to read and follow bills of materials, work instructions, assembly drawings, travelers, and production documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify incorrect parts, polarity issues, misaligned components, solder defects, and workmanship concerns.
• Ability to follow standardized procedures and escalate issues when information is unclear or discrepancies are found.
• Comfortable working with small electronic components and printed circuit boards.
• Basic computer skills for accessing work instructions, production documentation, and machine-related information.
• Ability to stand for extended periods, use hand tools, handle circuit boards safely, and lift moderate weights as needed.
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team-oriented production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• SMT pick-and-place machine experience.
• Experience loading feeders and verifying electronic components.
• Knowledge of IPC-A-610 workmanship standards.
• Hand soldering, rework, or inspection experience.
• Experience with AOI, microscopes, magnifiers, calipers, or other inspection tools.
• Familiarity with electronic component identification, polarity markings, resistor/capacitor values, IC orientation, and PCB assembly processes.
• Experience in quick-turn, prototype, contract manufacturing, or high-mix/low-volume electronics production.

Important Quality Expectations

This role requires accuracy, patience, and good judgment. Avcom SMT builds customer-controlled assemblies where part substitutions, polarity errors, missing components, or undocumented changes can create serious quality issues. Operators are expected to stop and ask questions when something does not match the BOM, drawing, work instruction, component label, or customer requirement.

Work Environment

This position is performed in a manufacturing environment and may require standing for extended periods, handling small components, working around production equipment, using magnification or microscopes, and lifting trays, racks, or materials. Eye/hand coordination, good vision, color recognition, and attention to detail are important for success in this role.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Technical school, vocational training, electronics coursework, IPC training, or related manufacturing experience is a plus.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Avcom SMT is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Avcom SMT, Inc. is a complete contract electronic service manufacturer near Columbus, OH that offers the ability to choose the services you require. Avcom will manage and produce your entire project or perform a single service that fits your needs. We have the flexibility to handle existing designs that require hand assembly, as well as, robotic assembly.

We are a small family owned and operated business that takes care of our customers and employees. We have an extremely low turn over rate, so contact us quickly, because we only have these positions open for a limited time.