Lead Production Operator

Job Description

Job Description

Job Opportunity: Lead Production Operator Level 4 - Elevate Electronics Manufacturing with SMTC! 

About Us: At SMTC Corporation, our purpose is to enhance people's lives and our world every day. Join us in this exciting journey, making a significant impact on the manufacturing of cutting-edge electronics products. We're dedicated to excellence and innovation, and we're seeking an enthusiastic professional to contribute to our mission.

Summary: 

The Lead Production Operator 4 (PO 4) is responsible for coordinating the daily activities of the assigned production area while performing advanced electronic and mechanical assembly operations. This role serves as the technical lead by coordinating workflow, assigning daily work, supporting employee training, monitoring production performance, and ensuring products are manufactured in accordance with customer requirements, quality standards, and production schedules.

Working closely with Manufacturing Supervisors, Engineering, Quality, Materials, and Production leadership, the Lead Production Operator provides day-to-day operational guidance, supports continuous improvement initiatives, and promotes a safe, efficient, and high-performing manufacturing environment.

 

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate daily production activities by assigning work, balancing workloads, and supporting production schedules to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity objectives. 
• Perform advanced electronic and mechanical assembly operations while supporting multiple production processes, including component preparation, manual assembly, selective solder support, post-wave operations, mechanical assembly, and final product packaging as required. 
• Monitor production performance, work-in-process (WIP), quality yields, labor utilization, and production efficiency while responding to changing production priorities. 
• Verify production readiness by reviewing work orders, build plans, bills of material (BOMs), tooling, materials, assembly documentation, and component availability prior to production. 
• Perform routine line audits, in-process inspections, and quality verification activities to ensure compliance with customer specifications, IPC workmanship standards, and manufacturing procedures. 
• Coordinate resolution of production, quality, material, tooling, and equipment issues by collaborating with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Materials, and Maintenance personnel. 
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action activities by identifying production trends, documenting issues, implementing corrective measures, and verifying effectiveness. 
• Train, mentor, and provide on-the-job instruction to Production Operators while supporting onboarding, cross-training, skills development, and standardized work practices. 
• Monitor compliance with Leader Standard Work, ESD controls, safety procedures, 5S practices, manufacturing documentation, and established production processes. 
• Maintain accurate production records, shift turnover documentation, WIP transactions, production reporting, and operational metrics to support production continuity. 
• Escalate significant production, quality, staffing, material, tooling, or safety concerns to the Manufacturing Supervisor while providing recommendations for resolution. 
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, productivity, waste reduction, standardized work, safety, and operational excellence.

 

Lead Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day work direction, guidance, and technical support to team members.
• Assist with onboarding, training, retraining, and skill development activities.
• Monitor workflow, productivity, and quality performance while escalating issues to leadership as appropriate.
• Serve as a resource for problem resolution and process improvement initiatives within the work area.

 

Competencies:

• Production Leadership: Ability to coordinate daily production activities and support workflow execution. 
• Advanced Manufacturing Assembly: Ability to perform advanced electronic and mechanical assembly operations while serving as a technical resource. 
• Production Coordination: Ability to prioritize work, balance workloads, and support production schedules. 
• Manufacturing Process Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of manufacturing processes, standardized work, and production workflows. 
• Quality Awareness: Ability to ensure compliance with customer requirements, IPC standards, and manufacturing procedures. 
• Problem Solving: Ability to identify production issues, support corrective actions, and recommend practical solutions. 
• Workload Prioritization: Ability to adjust resources and priorities to meet changing production demands. 
• Training & Mentorship: Ability to train, coach, and reinforce standardized work practices through on-the-job instruction. 
• Continuous Improvement: Ability to identify opportunities that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational efficiency. 
• Leader Standard Work: Knowledge of Leader Standard Work principles and daily production management practices. 
• Production Documentation: Ability to maintain accurate production records, WIP transactions, and operational metrics. 
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Materials, and Maintenance teams. 
• Safety Leadership: Ability to promote compliance with safety procedures, ESD controls, and 5S workplace standards. 
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in ERP/MES systems, manufacturing software, and production reporting tools.

 

Qualifications: 

• Education:  Associate degree in Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Technology, Electronics, or a related field preferred.
• Certifications:
  • IPC-A-610 Certified IPC Specialist (CIS)
  • IPC J-STD-001 Certification (as applicable)
  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
• Experience:
  • Minimum of five (5) years of progressive manufacturing or electronics assembly experience. 
  • Minimum of one (1) year providing work direction, training, or technical leadership in a manufacturing environment preferred. 
  • Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) experience strongly preferred. 
  • Demonstrated experience coordinating production activities, supporting troubleshooting efforts, monitoring production performance, and driving continuous improvement. 
  • Experience utilizing ERP or Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and maintaining production documentation. 
  • Working knowledge of IPC workmanship standards, standardized work practices, and Lean manufacturing principles. 
  • Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. 
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing software.

 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods during the work shift. 
• Ability to sit for extended periods when performing inspection, testing, administrative, or computer-based tasks. 
• Ability to use hands and fingers to handle, inspect, manipulate, assemble, or operate equipment and materials. 
• Ability to perform repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements. 
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop, twist, kneel, crouch, and/or climb as required. 
• Ability to visually inspect products, components, assemblies, documentation, and computer displays with or without corrective lenses. 
• Ability to distinguish colors, markings, symbols, and other visual indicators when required by the position. 
• Ability to hear and communicate effectively in a manufacturing environment. 
• Ability to safely operate tools, equipment, machinery, or material handling devices as authorized. 
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials and equipment up to 25 pounds. 
• Ability to work in close proximity to production equipment, moving machinery, and material handling operations while maintaining situational awareness. 
• Ability to wear and properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE) and ESD protection devices. 
• Ability to maintain physical stamina necessary to meet production, quality, and operational requirements. 

Mental Requirements:

• Work requires the ability to maintain attention to detail, concentration, and accuracy while performing routine and non-routine tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Employees must be able to understand and follow written and verbal instructions, interpret job-related documentation, apply established procedures, and make decisions within defined guidelines. 
• The role requires effective problem-solving, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while adapting to changing production demands. 
• Employees must be able to communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and other departments, maintain focus despite interruptions, and consistently meet safety, quality, and productivity expectations.

Work Environment: 

• Work is performed within an electronics manufacturing environment and may involve exposure to moderate noise levels, fluctuating temperatures, and proximity to production equipment, soldering operations, and automated machinery. Duties may require standing, walking, bending, or repetitive motions for extended periods, as well as lifting or moving materials as job responsibilities dictate. Employees may enter clean or controlled areas and are required to follow all environmental, safety, ESD, and equipment-handling procedures. This includes the use of SMTC-provided ESD-safe items such as foot straps, wrist straps, and smocks when working in designated areas. Employees must be able to remain attentive and compliant with all operational, safety, and quality requirements while working on or near the production floor. 

 

Travel: 0-10% of the time based on business needs.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

SMTC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or other protected status. 

If you require assistance completing this application due to a disability, please contact Human Resources to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.