The Opportunity

Halmer Group is recruiting an SMT Operator to join a PCB assembly production team in Reading.

This permanent, full-time position offers a salary of £27300–£35,100 per year, depending on experience. You will work a 37.5-hour early day shift, finishing at 2:00pm from Monday to Thursday and at 11:30am every Friday.

You will set up and operate Surface Mount Technology equipment, manufacture printed circuit boards to specification and help maintain consistent quality throughout production. The role involves working with pick-and-place machines, screen printers and reflow ovens, following detailed assembly information and inspecting completed work for faults.

This opportunity would suit an experienced SMT Operator, Surface Mount Operator or PCB Assembly Technician with fine-pitch assembly experience and a careful, quality-focused approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up and operate pick-and-place machines, screen printers and reflow ovens.
• Manufacture PCB assemblies in accordance with production specifications.
• Work from assembly drawings, component lists and bills of materials.
• Identify and handle electronic components, including resistors, capacitors and integrated circuits.
• Inspect completed work and identify PCB faults.
• Follow company quality procedures throughout production.
• Apply static-control requirements and general IPC-A-610 surface-mount standards.
• Work safely and accurately to meet daily production schedules.
• Support colleagues across the PCB assembly production team.

Requirements

Essential

• Previous experience with fine-pitch SMT assembly.
• Experience setting up or operating relevant surface-mount production equipment.
• Ability to read assembly drawings, component lists, bills of materials or similar production information.
• Ability to identify common electronic components.
• Good attention to detail and hand-eye coordination.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to work accurately and reliably to production deadlines.
• Understanding of appropriate static-control and quality procedures.
• Availability to work the stated early day-shift pattern.

Desirable

• Experience working with BGA components.
• Experience operating Juki or DEK equipment.
• PCB soldering experience.
• Experience within contract electronics manufacturing.
• Familiarity with IPC-A-610 surface-mount standards.

Skills and Qualities

• Careful and methodical approach.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Good practical problem-solving skills.
• Consistent focus on quality.
• Ability to follow technical instructions accurately.
• Dependable and organised working style.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a production team.
• Commitment to safe working practices.

Shift Pattern

• Monday to Thursday: 6:00am–2:00pm
• Friday: 6:00am–11:30am
• 37.5 hours per week

What’s On Offer

• Salary of £27300–£35,100 per year, depending on experience.
• Permanent, full-time employment.
• 37.5-hour working week.
• Early day-shift working pattern.
• 2:00pm finish from Monday to Thursday.
• 11:30am finish every Friday.
• Hands-on role within a PCB assembly production team.

How to Apply

This role is being recruited by Halmer Group on behalf of our client.

We would like to hear from experienced SMT Operators, Surface Mount Operators, PCB Assembly Technicians and Electronics Assembly Operators with relevant fine-pitch SMT experience.

Please send your CV to halmergroup@halmer.co.uk and tell us about your SMT or PCB assembly experience.

All applications will be treated in strict confidence.