Senior Test Technician

Viavi Solutions•Wichita, KS

10d

About The Position

The AvComm Business Unit of VIAVI Solutions has an opening for a Senior Test Technician to serve as the primary caretaker of our manufacturing and service test infrastructure. With more than 60 active test stands across Production and Service, this role is the first line of support when a stand has a problem and the driving force behind keeping all of them in peak operating condition. The ideal candidate is hands-on, highly organized, and thrives on being the person that operators know they can count on — the go-to resource on the production floor for anything related to test stand health and operation.

Requirements

Associate degree or technical certification in Electronics, Electrical Technology, or a related field; or equivalent hands-on experience.
Minimum 3 years of experience supporting, maintaining, or operating automated test equipment in a manufacturing or service environment.
Solid understanding of RF and electronic test equipment — able to identify instruments, understand their function in a test system, and recognize signs of malfunction.
Hands-on experience with RF connectors, cables, and fixturing, including inspection and replacement of wear items.
Familiarity with test stand hardware architecture, including signal routing, switching, and cabling practices.
Strong troubleshooting skills — able to work methodically through a problem using available documentation, instruments, and prior experience.
All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. Citizen or National, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, Refugee, or Temporary Resident granted amnesty.

Responsibilities

Serve as the first point of contact for test operators when a production or service test stand is not behaving as expected.
Diagnose and resolve stand issues in a timely manner, minimizing production disruption and operator downtime.
Distinguish between operator error, hardware failure, fixturing issues, and software anomalies, and escalate to Test Engineering when issues require code-level investigation.
Maintain clear and accurate records of all support incidents, including symptoms, root cause, and corrective actions taken.
Track recurring issues across stands to identify systemic problems and surface them to Test Engineering for permanent resolution.
Evaluate existing PM plans for all test stands, identifying gaps and deficiencies — including stand-specific consumable replacement intervals (e.g., connectors, cables, contact wear items) that are not currently captured.
Develop and maintain comprehensive, stand-specific PM plans that address the unique configuration and usage demands of each test system.
Establish and track usage-based maintenance triggers (cycle counts, calendar intervals, failure history) appropriate to each stand.
Collaborate with Test Engineering to ensure PM plans reflect engineering intent and are updated when stands are modified or upgraded.
Perform scheduled PM actions on all assigned test stands in Production and Service, following documented procedures.
Inspect, clean, and replace mechanical wear items such as connectors, cables, fixturing components, and contact surfaces on a defined schedule.
Coordinate with production scheduling to plan PM activities with minimal disruption to manufacturing throughput.
Verify stand performance following PM completion before returning equipment to production.
Create and maintain detailed PM logs for all test stands, capturing maintenance history, parts replaced, and any anomalies observed.
Ensure records are current, accurate, and accessible to Test Engineering and management.
Use maintenance history to proactively identify stands that are trending toward failure or increased support burden.
Contribute to continuous improvement of PM documentation, procedures, and checklists based on field experience.
Develop and deliver training for test operators on the care and upkeep of test stands — covering proper handling, connection practices, daily checks, and early warning signs of stand issues.
Build and maintain operator-facing reference materials such as quick-reference guides, checklists, and instructional aids for stand maintenance tasks.
Foster a culture of equipment ownership on the production floor, helping operators understand how their handling practices directly affect stand reliability and test quality.
Provide ongoing coaching and mentoring to operators, serving as the accessible, trusted resource for stand-related questions.