Through-Hole Lead

Rocket EMS, Inc.; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Holidays

Opportunities for advancement

Job summary

Rocket EMS in Carson City, NV is seeking a Through-Hole Lead to supervise the through-hole assembly team, coordinate daily tasks, support production schedules, and ensure IPC-A-610 Class 2 and 3 workmanship.

You will train operators, troubleshoot soldering issues, and work with engineering, quality, and production leadership to maintain quality and efficient workflows in a fast-paced electronics manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required and hands-on leadership experience.
• Minimum 3 years in through-hole assembly/soldering in electronics manufacturing.
• Experience as a production lead or trainer preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily through-hole production activities and assign work by priority and resources.
• Review MPIs, drawings, ECOs, BOMs, and customer requirements to ensure current build docs are used.
• Lead hand insertion, hand soldering, wave/ selective soldering operations.
• Verify component IDs, polarity, orientation, and workmanship throughout assembly.
• Ensure setups and process settings follow instructions; coordinate first-article verification.

Skills

Soldering expertise

Defect troubleshooting

IPC-A-610

Read schematics/BOMs

Team leadership

English communication

Excel/basic MS 365

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Hand soldering

Selective soldering

Wave soldering

Job description

As a Through-Hole Lead at Rocket EMS, you will provide hands-on leadership to the through-hole assembly team, coordinating daily work assignments, supporting production schedules, and ensuring assemblies meet IPC-A-610 Class 2 and 3 workmanship standards. You’ll train operators, troubleshoot assembly and soldering issues, and work closely with engineering, quality, and production leadership to maintain consistent quality and efficient workflow. This role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to guide a team in a fast-paced electronics manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily through-hole production activities, assigning work based on production priorities, employee qualifications, and available resources.
• Review MPIs, assembly drawings, ECOs, BOMs, and customer requirements; ensure operators use current, approved build documentation.
• Lead and support component preparation, hand insertion, hand soldering, wave soldering, and selective soldering operations.
• Verify component identification, polarity, orientation, placement, and workmanship throughout the assembly process.
• Confirm equipment setups and process settings follow approved instructions; coordinate first-article verification and required approvals before production proceeds.
• Monitor work in process, output, and schedule progress; communicate material shortages, equipment problems, staffing needs, and production delays to the Supervisor.
• Provide hands-on troubleshooting for assembly and soldering defects; contain affected work and elevate recurring or unresolved issues to Engineering, Quality, or the Supervisor.
• Perform and support authorized rework and solder touch-up in accordance with approved procedures.
• Train and coach operators on assembly methods, soldering techniques, equipment operation, workmanship requirements, and safe handling practices.
• Verify completion of production records, traceability requirements, first-article documentation, and in-process inspection forms.
• Communicate clear shift pass-downs covering job status, priorities, quality concerns, and unresolved issues.
• Reinforce safety, ESD, applicable MSD handling, housekeeping, and 5S requirements.
• Work with Engineering and Quality to identify defect trends and improve processes, reducing rework and production interruptions.
• Support other assembly or rework areas as directed by the Supervisor, Engineer, or Manager.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in through-hole assembly and soldering in a contract manufacturing or electronics production environment.
• Previous experience as a production lead, trainer, or senior operator with responsibility for guiding other employees preferred.
• Hands-on experience with hand soldering and selective and/or wave soldering equipment.
• IPC-A-610 and/or J-STD-001 certification preferred.

Skills

• Strong soldering and defect troubleshooting skills for both leaded and lead-free assemblies.
• Ability to read and interpret MPIs, assembly drawings, schematics, BOMs, and customer requirements.
• Understanding of component identification, polarity, orientation, and color codes.
• Working knowledge of IPC-A-610 Class 2 and 3 workmanship requirements.
• Ability to organize workloads, communicate priorities, and guide operators to meet quality and production goals.
• Effective training, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to consistent workmanship.
• Basic computer literacy, including Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and production tracking systems.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills in English.

• 401(k) with company match
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunities for advancement in a growing, technology-driven manufacturing environment

Schedule

• 8-hour shift, Monday–Friday
• Overtime and weekends as needed

Pay Range

$24 - $28 USD

ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.