SMT Engineering Manager

Sony Corporate Technology Center America; Pencoed; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed, Wales, specializes in SMT production of high-quality circuit boards for Sony and third-party products. The SMT Engineering Manager will lead a team of engineers and technicians, ensuring strong performance, TPM, and continuous improvement.

You will develop skills, mentor staff, and collaborate with Production, Quality, and NMI managers to deliver reliable production and quality outcomes on shift-based coverage.

Qualifications

• Minimum HNC in an engineering discipline.
• Experience in electrical and mechanical engineering.
• Experience of leading a team and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the SMT Shift Engineering Team.
• Oversee TPM and maintenance to maximise machine availability.
• Monitor budgets, spares inventory and cost control.
• Provide technical reports and data-driven recommendations.
• Apply DMAIC methods to drive improvements.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

HNC in Engineering

Tools

DMAIC

Job description

Location: Pencoed, South Wales.

Shift Pattern: Days

Business Overview:

Sony UK Technology Centre is a division of Sony Europe Limited. We are the only manufacturing centre for Sony in Europe and have over 500 highly skilled team players who help create some of the most advanced technology on the global market. The heart of today's operation at Pencoed is centered on the manufacture of high technology Broadcast and Professional Cameras and Systems including the latest industry leading 4K technology. Alongside this we provide contract manufacturing solutions for multiple non-Sony branded businesses. This collaborative approach to contract manufacturing has produced many commercial successes over the years, including the best-selling British computer of all time, the Raspberry Pi. Further, we are the home of a Sony customer service and solutions centre, a Business Incubation Centre and much more.

Role Overview

At Sony UK Technology Centre, the Surface Mount (SMT) Department plays a key role in producing high-quality circuit boards for both Sony-branded products, such as our broadcast cameras, and third-party products, including the Raspberry Pi single-board computer.Our team strives to deliver innovative products and processes, with quality at the forefront of everything we do.

The SMT Engineering Manager role plays a key part in the SMT Department, leading a team of Engineers and Technicians. The role of the team is to maximise our machine availability and performance, while maintaining the highest quality levels. Key tasks to support this include TPM (Maintenance), structured approach to machine breakdowns, and regular monitoring of process data to drive improvement actions.

The role of the SMT Engineering Manager is to lead and support the team, who work in shift patterns to provide full coverage of the SMT Production lines. A critical part of the role is developing the team's skills and capabilities, supporting each team member to fulfil their potential and contribute to the team's success through training, mentoring and practical experience.

As a member of the SMT Operations Team, the SMT Engineering Manager will work closely with Production Managers, Quality Managers and NMI (New Model Introduction) Managers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the SMT Shift Engineering Team, ensuring effective performance, collaboration and alignment with production objectives.
• Support the technical development, skills enhancement and career progression of team members, ensuring a culture of continuous improvement.
• Oversee the maintenance, reliability and performance of SMT production machinery and equipment, ensuring effective implementation and TPM plans.
• Manage spare parts inventory, ensuring optimal stock levels, availability of critical components and effective cost control.
• Monitor and control departmental budgets, including maintenance costs, scrap and resource utilisation.
• Drive engineering activities focused on product and process quality, working closely with the SMT Quality Manager to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
• Lead and facilitate structured problem-solving activities, applying DMAIC methodologies to identify root causes, implement corrective actions and deliver sustainable improvements.
• Prepare, maintain and communicate clear, accurate technical reports, providing relevant performance data, analysis and recommendations to support informed decision-making.

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified to minimum HNC level in an engineering discipline
• Demonstrable experience in electrical and mechanical engineering
• Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience of leading a team
• Strong problem-solving skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of SMT processes and equipment
• Understanding of Technical Drawings and Specifications
• Understanding of risk assessment; a relevant NEBOSH or IOSH qualification would be an advantage
• Experience of using structured problem-solving tools/methods would be an advantage.
• Demonstrable experience of taking a methodical approach to delivering actions and achieving KPI targets