Soldering Process Engineer

Richardson Electronics Ltd•Blackberry Township, IL

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Soldering Process & Inspection Specialist is responsible for ensuring the quality, reliability, and compliance of soldering operations including dip soldering, selective soldering, and hand soldering. This role serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in soldering processes and inspection standards, supporting production, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives in a high-reliability electronics manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or related field) preferred, or equivalent combination of education and hands-on soldering/process experience
IPC-A-610 Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) or Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) strongly preferred
J-STD-001 certification preferred
3–7+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing with hands-on soldering and inspection
Strong knowledge of dip, selective, and hand soldering processes and equipment
Proven ability to identify and classify solder defects accurately
Familiarity with microscopes, inspection tools, and measurement equipment

Nice To Haves

Experience in high-reliability industries (aerospace, defense, medical, automotive)
Understanding of thermal profiling and process optimization
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and assembly documentation
Knowledge of ESD controls and handling procedures
Experience with quality systems (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.)
Strong attention to detail and documentation discipline
Effective communication and training skills

Responsibilities

Perform visual and mechanical inspection of solder joints in accordance with IPC-A-610 and/or J-STD-001 standards
Evaluate and approve dip, selective, and hand soldering processes for production readiness
Identify solder defects (e.g., bridging, insufficient wetting, voiding, cold joints) and drive root cause analysis and corrective actions
Develop, document, and maintain inspection criteria, work instructions, and acceptance standards
Provide technical guidance and training to operators and inspectors on proper soldering techniques and defect recognition
Support process validation activities including profiling, first article inspection (FAI), and process qualification
Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to improve soldering yields and reduce rework/scrap
Audit soldering processes and workmanship for compliance with internal and customer requirements
Participate in failure analysis and reliability investigations related to solder joint performance
Maintain inspection records and ensure traceability per quality management system requirements