Encoders Technician

Timken; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

The Timken Company in Traverse City, MI is seeking an Encoders Technician to support prototype assembly, testing, and PCB design for encoder projects. You will work with the encoders team on ad hoc projects aligned with business growth, contributing to device development and production launches.

Ideal candidates have hands-on electromechanical assembly experience, 4–8 years in related fields, and familiarity with SMT soldering, CAD tools, and SAP tracking.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma or equivalent; associates degree preferred.
• 4–8 years in design, testing, diagnostics, assembly and troubleshooting of electronic/mechatronic products.
• General knowledge of product design and manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on electromechanical/mechatronics assembly and test experience.
• Experience with SMT electronics and SMT soldering equipment.

Responsibilities

• Designs printed circuit boards for chip applications; collaborates with suppliers during design, prototype and testing phases.
• Designs and builds manufacturing tooling for Traverse City and China facilities; coordinates with firmware to develop software for manufacturing.
• Assembles and tests encoders and magnetic sensor targets, including fixtures and test apparatuses.
• Maintains prints and related documentation; uses SAP to track prototypes and SRM for components; coordinates with Manufacturing Engineering on deliverables.
• Participates in APQP, Six Sigma, Quality Audits and ad hoc project analyses.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication

Problem solving

Hands-on electromechanical assembly

SMT electronics experience

Education

HS Diploma or equivalent

Associates Degree in Electronics/Mechatronics

Tools

SAP

UG CAD

PCB Schematic

PCB Layout

SMT Soldering

MS Office

Job description

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What Timken makes possible begins with you.Those who came before us helped land a man on the moon, create the world's infrastructure, and introduce renewable energy alternatives. Now you can join the Timken team to write your own unique story and help drive what's next.

A career at Timken means you can have an immediate impact doing Work That Matters to the world— improving the efficiency of today's industrial equipment and preparing for the future of motion on our planet and beyond. New employees can start contributing right away, and there are many opportunities to advance your career at your own pace. Join our global team of 19,000 people in 45 countries, and start helping our customers push the limits of what's possible in their world of motion.

The Timken Company sells some of the world’s most sophisticated magnetic position encoders. This role supports the company’s engineering and small volume production group in Traverse City, MI.

Responsibilities include prototype assembly, prototype testing, pre-production assembly, pre-production testing, and testing/prototype manufacturing equipment development. The role also designs printed circuit boards for prototype and production units. The Encoders Technician works with the broader encoders team on ad hoc projects and applications in alignment with the business growth plan.

Duties

Design, Assembly and Testing

• Designs printed circuit boards for chip applications; works with suppliers during the design, prototype, testing phases of programs to ensure project timing is met. Supports electro-mechanical product design, prototype assembly and testing support during the production launch of new products.
• Designs and builds manufacturing tooling to be used by the manufacturing groups in the Traverse City and China facilities. Works with the firmware engineer to develop and implement software for manufacturing.
• Assembles and tests encoders and magnetic sensor targets, including fixtures and test apparatuses.

Administration & Project Support

• Maintains prints and related documentation. Uses SAP to track progress of prototypes, SRM for ordering of components. Interacts with Manufacturing Engineering to manage the project deliverables during prototype and production launches.
• Participates in APQP activities, Six Sigma, Quality Audits, and ad hoc project financial analysis.

Requirements

• HS Diploma or equivalent - Associates Degree in Electronics/Mechatronics preferred.
• 4 to 8 years' industry-related experience in design, testing, diagnostics, assembly and troubleshootingof electronic/mechatronic products.
• General knowledge of product design and manufacturing processes.
• Proficient with MS Office tools.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic CAD skills: UG CAD experience, PCB Schematic, PCB layout.
• Excellent problem solving skills.
• Hands on electromechanical / mechatronics assembly and test experience.
• Experience working with SMT electronics, electronics packaging.
• Use of basic hand and power tools and SMT soldering equipment.
• Machine tool experience for tooling and prototype construction preferred.
• Team Center, SAP general Skills to track prototypes preferred.

This position may require access to United States export controlled technical data (“CTD”) and hardware under the Departments of US State (ITAR) and/or Commerce (EAR). Eligible candidates are; US Citizens, Green Card holders, Asylees or others eligible to receive US export license authorizations. Candidate must be authorized to work in the US.

All qualified applicants shall be treated equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences and other employment standards. There will be no discrimination due to gender or gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran/military status or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Timken is a global technology leader in engineered bearings and industrial motion. Our expanding portfolio of next-generation solutions helps customers around the world improve efficiency, solve their toughest challenges, and push the boundaries of performance. We employ 19,000 people globally, operate from 45 countries, and posted $4.6 billion in sales in 2025.

We have been recognized as one of America's Most Responsible Companies 6x by Newsweek and one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® 15x by Ethisphere.

Why Choose Timken?

• Over a century of knowledge and innovation
• A culture of top performance
• Products that contribute to a sustainable world
• A conviction to improve communities around us
• Competitive salary and benefits

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