SMD Quality Engineer

SL Tennessee; Clinton (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SL Tennessee is seeking a SMD Quality Engineer to ensure product and process quality in our electronics manufacturing operations. You will lead in-process inspections and defect prevention across SMT/SMD lines to uphold quality standards.

Your role involves analyzing solder defects, maintaining control plans, updating PFMEA, and supporting new product launches through APQP, trial builds, and pilot runs. You will collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to resolve quality issues

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in electronic manufacturing with a quality focus.
• Experience with SMT/SMD processes (Printing, SPI, Pick & Place, Reflow, AOI).
• Experience in in-process inspection or line patrol in mass production.
• Experience identifying soldering defects (bridging, tombstoning, insufficient solder, voids).
• Experience supporting new product launches (APQP, trial build, pilot run).
• Experience handling customer quality issues or internal defect containment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure product and process quality in SMT/SMD manufacturing through in-process inspection and line patrol activities.
• Identify and evaluate soldering defects and drive defect reduction activities.
• Develop and maintain Control Plans to ensure quality requirements.
• Verify and update PFMEA to identify and mitigate process risks.
• Analyze customer quality requirements and support issue resolution.
• Monitor and analyze process trends and quality data to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage defect rates and process capability (Cpk) to ensure stability and quality.
• Support new product launch activities including APQP, trial builds, and pilot runs.
• Respond to quality issues in mass production with containment and escalation.
• Perform root cause analysis (5 Why) and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure compliance with ESD control requirements and proper handling of components.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Suppliers to resolve issues and improve processes.
• Maintain accurate inspection records and quality documentation.

Skills

SMT/SMD processes

PCB assembly

APQP knowledge

In-process inspection

Soldering defect identification

ESD control

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

5 Why

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Associate degree in Quality or Engineering

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Job description

SMD Quality Engineer

General Description

• Responsible for managing quality in SMD manufacturing processes at SL Tennessee. Ensures product and process quality through in-process control, defect prevention, and compliance with quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Ensure product and process quality in SMT/SMD manufacturing through in-process inspection and line patrol activities

• Identify and evaluate soldering defects (e.g., bridging, tombstoning, insufficient solder, voids) and drive defect reduction activities

• Develop and maintain Control Plans to ensure compliance with process quality requirements

• Verify and update PFMEA to proactively identify and mitigate process risks

• Analyze and respond to customer quality requirements and support customer issue resolution

• Monitor and analyze process trends and quality data to identify potential issues and drive continuous improvement

• Manage defect rates and process capability (e.g., Cpk) to ensure process stability and quality performance

• Support new product launch activities including APQP, trial builds, and pilot runs to ensure production readiness

• Respond to quality issues in mass production, including containment, escalation, and cross-functional communication

• Perform root cause analysis (e.g., 5 Why) and implement corrective and preventive actions

• Ensure compliance with ESD control requirements and proper handling of electronic components

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Manufacturing, Suppliers) to resolve quality issues and improve processes

• Maintain accurate inspection records and quality documentation

Job Requirements

Work Experience

• 3+ years of experience in an electronic manufacturing environment with a quality background

• Experience or knowledge in SMT/SMD processes (Printing, SPI, Pick & Place, Reflow, AOI)

• Experience in in-process inspection or line patrol activities in mass production

• Experience in identifying and handling soldering defects (e.g., bridging, tombstoning, insufficient solder, voids)

• Experience supporting new product launch activities (APQP, trial build, pilot run) preferred

• Experience in handling customer quality issues or internal defect containment in mass production

Education

• Associate’s degree in a technical field related to Quality or Engineering, or

• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understanding of SMT/SMD manufacturing processes and PCB assembly

• Basic understanding of APQP and quality requirements for new product launch

• Ability to identify soldering defects and quality issues in both pilot and mass production

• Understanding of ESD control requirements (ANSI/ESD S20.20 or IEC 61340)

• Ability to collect and analyze data and support root cause analysis (5 Why, etc.)