Senior Engineering Technician

Filtronic; Sedgefield; On-site; ZAR 350 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading electronics manufacturer in South Africa is seeking a Process Engineer to bridge engineering development and manufacturing processes. The role involves supporting new product introductions, optimising operational processes, and troubleshooting issues to enhance performance. Candidates should have an engineering background with relevant experience in manufacturing, strong problem-solving skills, and proficiency in MS Excel. The company values diversity and is committed to an inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment, ideally electronics or semiconductor packaging.
• Ability to support process optimisation and continuous improvement activities.
• Comfortable with technical report writing and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support NPI, process optimisation, and continuous improvement.
• Assist with troubleshooting of manufacturing defects.
• Act as a link between engineering teams and production.

Skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Data handling

MS Excel

Education

HNC / HND / Degree in Engineering discipline

Tools

MRP systems

PLM systems

Job description

Filtronic PLC is a world leader in the design and manufacture of customised microwave and millimetre wave electronics. Our products are used within telecommunications, defence and other related applications. Our investment in high calibre staff, leading edge technology and a world class manufacturing facility underpin our growth strategy and our aim to be a world class supplier of high frequency products and solutions.

This role forms a critical technical bridge between engineering development and manufacturing, supporting NPI, process optimisation, root cause investigations, and continuous improvement activities across the production lifecycle.

Process Engineering Support (Primary Focus)

• Work closely with Process Engineers to learn, support, and optimise die attach and wire bonding processes.
• Support process development, characterisation, and documentation for new and existing products.
• Assist with process window definition, equipment setup, qualification, and validation activities.
• Support troubleshooting of process-related defects and variability within manufacturing.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to improve yield, robustness, and throughput.
• Ensure process changes are controlled through appropriate ECO / ECN procedures.

Product Engineering & Yield Support

• Support Product Engineering with yield detractor investigations, build fault analysis, and root cause determination.
• Assist with failure analysis activities, including sample preparation, data collection, and interpretation.
• Support engineering builds, trials, and experiments to identify design or process improvements.
• Review manufacturing and test data to identify trends, anomalies, and improvement opportunities.

Engineering & Manufacturing Interface

• Act as a technical link between Process Engineering, Product Engineering, and Production.
• Support NPI activities including engineering handover and transfer to production.
• Support incoming material inspection and reporting (substrates, MMICs, assemblies, wire, die, etc.).
• Work collaboratively with operators, technicians, engineers, and suppliers where required.

Equipment, Tooling & Documentation

• Support specification, setup, and maintenance of process tooling, fixtures, and jigs.
• Assist in developing and maintaining process instructions, control plans, and technical documentation.
• Use MRP & PLM systems (e.g. NetSuite, Arena) to access BOMs, drawings, routings, and engineering records.
• Ensure all work complies with ISO9001 / MIL-STD-883 and internal quality requirements.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

Essential

• Positive, proactive, and hands-on engineering mindset.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or engineering environment, ideally within electronics or semiconductor packaging.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a methodical approach to investigations.
• Ability to work effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including technical report writing.
• Comfortable handling data, identifying trends, and supporting evidence-based decisions.
• Competent user of MS Excel (charts, filtering, formulas, basic analysis).

Desirable

• Experience or exposure to die attach, wire bonding, or micro-electronics assembly processes.
• Experience supporting yield improvement or failure analysis activities.
• Familiarity with NPI environments and engineering change control.
• Experience with jigging, fixtures, or process tooling.
• Understanding of quality standards such as ISO9001 and MIL-STD-883.
• Experience working with MRP / PLM systems.

Education & Training

• HNC / HND / Degree in an Engineering discipline (Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, Materials, or similar),or significant relevant industrial experience.

• Willingness to undertake further training and development as required.

Working Pattern

Day shift. Potential offering to move into day shift (0600-1400hrs) and/or night shift (1400-2200hrs) patterns.

Please call our Talent Partner, Bruce Mair on 07483 917543 (anytime) if you would like to chat about this role or clarify the salary and benefits prior to investing your time applying.

Filtronic plc is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status. If you require any adjustments or accommodations to support you during the interview process, please let us know and we will be happy to assist.