PCB Test Engineer

MKS Inc.; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Health insurance coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Vacation time

Job summary

MKS Inc. is seeking a Senior PCBA Test Engineer to design, develop, deploy, and support automated PCBA test systems for high-volume production.

You will partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, and manufacturers to ensure robust, repeatable test solutions and quality delivery. You will work with LabVIEW/TestStand, AOI/ICT/FCT, and a range of test equipment to improve yield, diagnose issues, and train technicians across time zones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering required; Master’s preferred.
• 8+ years of PCBA functional test development in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience with NI LabVIEW and NI TestStand; CLD preferred.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and create wiring diagrams; use of PADS and Visio.
• Expertise in PCBA quality screening, test coverage analysis, and manufacturing defect detection using AOI, X-Ray, Flying Probe, ICT, Boundary Scan, Functional Test.
• Hands-on with laboratory test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, DAQ).
• Experience writing and reviewing test specifications and procedures.
• Strong project planning skills and multitasking in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and document automated PCBA test systems for deployment at global contract manufacturers.
• Develop and support automated test applications using NI LabVIEW and TestStand, including GUIs and test reports.
• Collaborate with PCBA contract manufacturers to implement AOI, ICT, and FCT to improve yield and reduce scrap.
• Verify and validate duplicate automated test systems before release to contract manufacturers.
• Troubleshoot UUT failures and test system anomalies; drive continuous improvement.
• Analyze test data using SPC to improve yield and product quality.
• Provide frontline technical support and remote assistance across multiple time zones.

Skills

PCBA testing

LabVIEW

TestStand

AOI

X-Ray

Flying Probe

Schematic reading

PADS

Visio

Statistical methods

Education

B.S. Electrical Engineering

M.S. Electrical Engineering

Tools

NI LabVIEW

NI TestStand

Multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Job description

As a Senior PCBA Test Engineer at MKS, you will partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Contract Manufacturing partners, and internal stakeholders to design, develop, deploy, and support automated PCB assembly (PCBA) test systems used in high‑volume production environments. In this role, you will serve as both a development engineer and frontline technical expert, ensuring robust, repeatable test solutions that meet product quality, delivery, and customer requirements. You will report to the Manager, Test Engineering.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Designing, developing, and documenting automated PCBA test systems, including hardware, software, and mechanical fixtures, for deployment at global contract manufacturing sites
• Developing and supporting automated test applications using NI LabVIEW and TestStand, including user‑friendly GUIs and test report generation
• Working with PCBA contract manufacturers to implement AOI, ICT, and FCT to improve production yield and reduce PCBA rejection and scrap rates
• Performing verification and validation of duplicate automated test systems prior to release to contract manufacturers
• Troubleshooting Unit Under Test (UUT) failures, test system anomalies, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement
• Analyzing test data using statistical process control (SPC) tools to improve yield and product quality
• Providing frontline technical support and remote assistance, including use of virtual/augmented reality tools, to support technician training and issue resolution across multiple time zones

Skills You Bring:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is required; Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is preferred
• 8+ years of experience developing PCBA functional test programs (hardware and software), ideally in a high‑volume manufacturing environment
• Experience with NI LabVIEW and NI TestStand; CLD (Certified LabVIEW Developer) preferred
• Ability to read electrical schematics and create wiring diagrams; experience using tools such as PADS and Visio
• Expertise in PCBA quality screening, test coverage analysis, and manufacturing defect detection utilizing AOI, X-Ray, Flying Probe, ICT, Boundary Scan, Functional Test, and statistical quality methodologies
• Hands‑on experience with laboratory test equipment, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, waveform generators, and DAQ devices
• Experience writing and reviewing test specifications and procedures
• Strong project planning skills with the ability to manage multiple efforts simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment

Preferred Skills (Optional):

• Familiarity with low‑noise analog and high‑speed digital PCB designs
• Exposure to DFT (Design for Test) and DFM (Design for Manufacturing) principles
• Experience analyzing test data using statistical tools such as Minitab

Supervisory Scope (Optional):

• Reporting Relationships: Individual contributor role

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work in laboratory and manufacturing environments
• Occasional lifting of test fixtures and equipment
• Use of standard laboratory tools and computer‑based development environments
• Ability to support off‑hour troubleshooting calls as needed to support global manufacturing operations

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Pay Range: $90,000.00 - $147,000.00 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.

Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].

Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.].

We are interested in a qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we will not be sponsoring work visas for this position, at this time.

MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.