Electronics R&D Technician – Prototype & Hardware Test (Aerospace/Defense)

Mindscope; Brownsville (WI); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Mindscope in Brownsville, WI seeks an Electronics R&D Technician to prototype and test hardware for aerospace/defense. The role focuses on PCB assembly, fine-pitch rework, and diagnosing complex board failures in a secure, advanced engineering lab.

Coordinating with hardware design engineers, you will bring concepts to working prototypes, perform diagnostics, and support production readiness. US work authorization is required; 1st shift in a high-security setting with limited travel.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 6+ years bench depth required.
• Proficient in PCB population, fine-pitch rework, and soldering.
• Able to read schematics and wiring diagrams.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, modify, and solder prototype PCBs in development stages.
• Conduct board bring-up, diagnostics, and root-cause analysis.
• Troubleshoot component-level failures on boards and assemblies.
• Assist with BOM verifications and calibration of lab equipment.
• Prepare lab docs and validation reports per AS9100/defense standards.

Skills

PCB assembly

Solder rework

Troubleshooting

Schematic tracing

Diagnostics tools

Lab documentation

Education

Associate Degree in Electronics

6+ years master technician bench depth

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Spectrum analyzers

Bench power supplies

LTspice

SolidWorks

Job description

Electronics R&D Technician – Prototype & Hardware Test (Aerospace/Defense)

Job Order ID: 4807

Employment Type: Permanent

Salary: $70000/Yr

Web Publication Date: 10/21/2026 12:00:00 AM

Job Location: Brownsville, WI 53006

Up to $70,000 Base Salary Greater Milwaukee Area 1st Shift Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Base salary up to $70,000 (scaling directly with bench depth and diagnostic expertise) + comprehensive corporate benefits package and 401(k) company match.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Standard 1st Shift schedule in an advanced engineering lab environment, with minimal travel (~20 days per year for field test support).
• Environment & Company Profile: Direct-hire seat in an advanced engineering lab supporting mission-critical aerospace and defense technologies; agile, highly secure partner with zero corporate bureaucracy.
• Core Technical Scope: Fine-pitch PCB assembly and SMT solder rework, schematic tracing, initial board bring-up, component-level fault isolation, BOM verifications, and lab equipment calibration.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires Associate Degree in Electronics/EET OR 6+ years of master technician bench depth, US work authorization without sponsorship, and a local Greater Milwaukee commute.

If you are an electronics specialist seeking to escape repetitive assembly-line environments or rigid corporate bureaucracy, this advanced engineering support seat offers an ideal career move. Our client is a highly secure, heavily capitalized aerospace and defense partner specializing in high-reliability electronic systems for mission-critical applications.

Operating as an agile engineering hub with over a decade of steady growth, the company offers high visibility, direct collaboration, and direct impact on new technologies. Serving as the primary right hand to a hardware design engineering group, you will work across the entire product lifecycle of engineered systems. You will transform raw concepts into functioning physical prototypes, diagnose complex board failures under lab conditions, and support production readiness—all within a zero-bureaucracy R&D setting.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Assemble & Modify Prototype PCBs: Populate, assemble, and perform fine-pitch solder rework on complex multi-layer PCBs across prototype development and low-volume production phases.
• Execute Board Bring-Up & Diagnostics: Partner directly with hardware design engineers to conduct initial board bring-ups, functional bench testing, and root-cause fault isolation.
• Troubleshoot Electrical Assemblies: Isolate component-level failures across circuit boards, wiring harnesses, and electro-mechanical sub-assemblies using oscilloscopes and diagnostic tools.
• Support BOMs & Lab Equipment: Assist with component sourcing, Bill of Materials (BOM) verifications, and calibration/maintenance of precision laboratory equipment.
• Generate Lab Documentation: Create assembly documentation, validation test reports, and engineering data logs in alignment with high-reliability quality standards (AS9100/defense).

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Electronics Bench Depth: Hands-on experience as an electronics technician or engineering technologist. An Associate Degree in Electronics/Electrical Technology is standard; however, 6+ years of master technician bench depth is welcomed in lieu of a degree.
• Precision Soldering & Rework: High proficiency in PCB population, surface-mount modification, and fine-pitch component solder rework.
• Schematic Fluency: Demonstrated ability to read, interpret, and trace complex electrical schematics, component spec sheets, and wiring diagrams.
• Diagnostic Tool Fluency: Practical expertise using oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, and bench power supplies to troubleshoot hardware to the component level.
• Work Authorization & Proximity: Legally authorized to work in the United States without present or future sponsorship; residing within a comfortable daily commuting distance of the Greater Milwaukee area.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Regulated Quality Standards: Experience supporting high-reliability quality management environments (AS9100D, ISO 9001, or defense systems).
• RF & Power Systems: Familiarity with power supply topologies, custom electro-optical systems, or basic RF electronics.
• CAD & Simulation Software: Exposure to 3D CAD modeling tools (SolidWorks) or circuit simulation platforms (LTspice).