Job Description

Do you love building electronics hardware to solve hard problems whose solutions have an important bearing on national security, military readiness, space exploration, national health, and the advancement of fundamental science or engineering?

Are you a highly motivated individual that enjoys working on teams to develop critical hardware?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking a Micro / Miniature Soldering Technician to help us build electronic circuit assemblies for space and national security applications. This is a unique opportunity to apply a passion for electronics manufacturing toward advanced prototypes and one-of-a kind systems that will further the scientific knowledge of humankind, safeguard our nation’s security, and advance the frontiers of space.

As a Micro / Miniature Soldering Technician you will hand solder and hand place components on fine pitch printed circuit board assemblies, wind toroids and transformers, and build harnesses and cables. This work will be in support of missions of all types, including civil space, cyber operations, global health, defense, national security, precision strike, and sea control. You will work with mixed technology assemblies in a high mix, low volume facility producing state-of-the-art systems.

As a Micro / Miniature Soldering Technician...

• Your primary responsibility will be to utilize the proper tools, equipment, and processes, to assemble and rework high reliability assemblies.
• These high reliability assemblies include fine pitch printed circuit board assemblies, magnetic components, cables, and harnesses.
• Work includes both manual hand operations and the operation of automated assembly equipment.
• You will verify, hand place, and hand solder components on printed circuit boards in accordance with engineering documentation, manufacturing process plans, and IPC-J-STD-001 standards.
• Miniature and micro-miniature soldering required.
• You will perform rework/repair of hardware on an as-needed basis.
• Both by hand and with the help of surface mount technology equipment.
• Removal and installation of miniature and micro-miniature components by soldering/de-soldering.
• You will operate and help maintain cleaning and convection and vapor phase reflow equipment.
• You will Interface with project and manufacturing engineers in resolution of problems on hardware and in order to develop complex manufacturing instructions.
• You will wind magnetics, both by hand and with the help of a machine.
• You will assemble cables, harnesses, and chassis according to engineering documentation and manufacturing process plans.
• You will accurately record as-built information, traceability requirements, labor hours, and other statistics into computer databases to comply with customer requirements.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Hold High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Are considered an expert in soldering/de-soldering components on fine pitch electronic assemblies under a microscope.
• Can solder miniature and micro-miniature surface mount components, size 01005 (0.2 mm by 0.4 mm) and potentially smaller, by hand.
• Can operate surface mount dispensing, installation, reflow, and rework machines as required.
• Have crimp, cable, and harnessing experience.
• Have the ability to interpret both formal and informal assembly documentation.
• Are customer-oriented with excellent communication skills.
• Are self-motivated, capable of multi-taking, and capable of following verbal and written instructions
• Can work in a collaborative environment with partners.
• Have extraordinary hand coordination and dexterity.
• Can obtain visual screening prerequisite per NASA-STD 8739.6
• Are willing and able to work in a Class 8 Cleanroom.
• Have a proficiency with PC's and MS Office applications.
• Are flexible in work hours during occasional periods of heavy workload. Shifted work hours and overtime (some evenings/weekends) could be required for short periods.
• Are able to obtain [Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI, or TS/SCI+poly] level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have:

• Experience in a high mix, low volume surface mount technology facility.
• Experience with JBC soldering stations
• Experience building electronic hardware for spacecraft.
• Experience wiring chassis.
• Experience applying polymeric materials to electronics.
• Active certification to IPC-J-STD-001 with space addendum.
• Active certification to IPC/WHMA-A-620.
• Active certification to IPC-7711/7721.
• Exposure to enterprise resource planning (ERP) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems.

Why work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. With a wide selection of challenging, impactful work and a robust education assistance program, APL promotes a culture of life-long learning. Our employees enjoy generous benefits and healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

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