Hands-On SMT Lead Operator & Manufacturing Engineer

Patton LLC; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Patton LLC is seeking an SMT Lead Operator and Manufacturing Engineer to own the SMT cell end-to-end—from planning and programming to setup, operation, quality and continuous improvement. This player‑coach role leads daily SMT production and drives process engineering including oven profiling, documentation, DFM, routings/BOM integrity, and equipment maintenance strategy.

Daily responsibilities include line leadership, process development, and ensuring compliance with IPC-A-610 and ISO 9001

Qualifications

• 3 years in automated electronics assembly with SMT programming/operation.
• Proficiency with stencil print, placement, reflow profiling, and AOI.
• Strong soldering/inspection skills to IPC-A-610; basic SMT rework.
• Experience with work instructions, routings, and ERP systems.
• Ability to lead operators while performing hands-on work.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute daily SMT schedule; organize kitting, feeder setup, first-article builds, and line changeovers.
• Operate and oversee stencil printer, pick-and-place, reflow, AOI, and stencil cleaning per manufacturer guidance and Patton procedures.
• Perform first-article inspection, AOI review/verification, and in-process checks to IPC-A-610 standards.
• Train and mentor operators; enforce ESD, safety, and 5S.
• Develop and maintain SMT processes including solder paste selection, print parameters, placement optimization, reflow profiling, and AOI programming.
• Generate and maintain work instructions, setup docs, and process control plans; drive DFM with Design Engineering.
• Specify, program, and improve automated equipment; define preventive maintenance and calibration plans.
• Establish and sustain standards/routings in ERP and ensure BOM/routing alignment.
• Lead root-cause/corrective action for defects and drive yield/cycle-time improvements.

Skills

SMT programming

Stencil printing

AOI

Reflow profiling

ERP systems

IPC-A-610

Soldering/Inspection

Line leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering or equivalent experience

Tools

Stencil printer

Pick-and-place equipment

Reflow oven

AOI equipment

ERP software

Job description

Patton LLC is seeking an SMT Lead Operator and Manufacturing Engineer to own the SMT cell end-to-end—from planning and programming to setup, operation, quality and continuous improvement. This player‑coach role leads daily SMT production and drives process engineering including oven profiling, documentation, DFM, routings/BOM integrity, and equipment maintenance strategy.

Daily responsibilities include line leadership, process development, and ensuring compliance with IPC-A-610 and ISO 9001