About this position
SeeScan is seeking an experienced, hands-on PCBA Failure Analysis Supervisor to build our in-house failure analysis capability for printed circuit board assemblies. You will investigate failures, document the findings, and repair boards when appropriate. You will also develop functional board checks for receiving inspection, train and oversee the incoming inspector, and work with Production, Quality, Engineering, and suppliers to prevent recurring failures. The role starts with hands-on bench work and may grow to include supervision of electronics technicians.
This is a fully onsite position in San Diego, CA.
Compensation
The pay range for our PCBA Failure Analysis Supervisor position is $30 to $52 hourly.
This range represents a good faith estimate based on the qualifications we expect to find in a successful candidate. Actual compensation offered may be less or greater than this estimate based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our assessment of your ability to bring value to our organization.
We offer
- A position within an established company that has over 40 years of experience
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Traditional and Roth 401(k) investment options, with partial company matching contribution
- Flexible Paid Time Off plan with no cap or "use it or lose it" requirement
In your application, include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter explaining why you are the ideal candidate for this position. We are looking for a long-term, in-house teammate to join us, not a contractor or consultant
In this position, you will
- Confirm or rule out reported symptoms on nonconforming circuit board assemblies, isolating faults to the component, solder joint, or net using visual inspection, stereo microscopy, electrical measurement, and powered functional testing
- Troubleshoot methodically with targeted measurements and record the sequence that led to your conclusion; determine how each assembly failed, separating confirmed findings from suspected causes
- Document the as-found condition and preserve evidence before rework or destructive testing, record any changes made, and log findings and supporting evidence in our ERP system
- Evaluate cosmetic and functional defects against product requirements and published acceptability criteria, classify them consistently so recurring failure modes can be trended, and recommend dispositions to the Material Review Board (MRB)
- Rework and repair approved assemblies, document any component replacements used to test a suspected failure mechanism, and verify repaired boards against test requirements before returning them to stock
- Recognize when a repair needs specialized equipment or expertise (such as BGA rework) and coordinate qualified support; when bench testing is inconclusive, coordinate X-ray and lab analysis with contract manufacturers or outside labs, defining the investigation objective and interpreting the results
- Escalate recurring or significant failures through the corrective action process, and lead problem-solving when failure rates or nonconforming material increase, working with Production, Quality, Engineering, and suppliers to find causes and verify corrective actions
- Set bench priorities and investigation checkpoints based on production impact, recurrence, risk, and board value, and coordinate deeper root-cause work with Engineering
- Specify and build our failure analysis capability, from bench instruments to outside lab services; train and develop electronics technicians as the function grows, establish consistent work methods, and help assess staffing needs
- Develop acceptance and rejection criteria for recurring defects with Quality and Engineering; develop and validate functional board checks for receiving inspection, and train and oversee the incoming inspector
Required qualifications
- 5+ years of board-level troubleshooting and rework on populated assemblies, including 3+ years in failure analysis, returns analysis, or nonconforming material evaluation
- 2+ years leading, training, or supervising technicians or inspectors, including setting priorities and holding a quality standard
- Strong analog and digital circuit knowledge, with the ability to work from schematics, assembly drawings, and bills of material
- Disciplined, component-level fault isolation using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and bench power supplies: forming hypotheses, choosing useful measurements, and explaining how the evidence supports your conclusion, across varied failure modes and unfamiliar circuitry
- Hand soldering and rework experience with surface-mount and through-hole components, and sound judgment about when hand rework isn't enough
- Experience inspecting solder joints and assemblies to published criteria such as IPC-A-610
- Experience developing functional test procedures for incoming or in-process inspection
- Ability to interpret X-ray images of BGA and other bottom-terminated packages and work with external analysis providers
- Familiarity with ESD control and moisture-sensitive device handling
- Experience working independently as a primary technical resource and coordinating support from Engineering, Quality, or external specialists
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with curve tracers, source measure units, or in-circuit signature comparison tools such as a Huntron Tracker
- IPC certification (CIS, CSE, or CIT)
- Experience with cross-sectioning, dye-and-pry analysis, or thermal imaging
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 or a comparable ERP system
About you
- Strong written and oral communicator; able to present clear, evidence-based technical conclusions
- Methodical and practical, choosing tests that reduce uncertainty and keeping investigations focused
- Comfortable with ambiguous evidence and willing to revise conclusions when new evidence warrants
- Able to train others, explain the reasoning behind a check, and hold a consistent quality standard
- Able to work under a stereo microscope for extended periods, with the fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination needed for precision rework
- Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
About SeeScan
Beneath the ground and below the water's surface is a world out of sight. Whether it's the inside of a pipe, or a maze of the buried services that keep our world running, or the deepest places of the ocean, our mission is to create products that help our customers see. Dating back more than 40 years to our founder's garage, we are an original equipment manufacturer in San Diego, CA that builds diagnostic, utility locating, and harsh-environment oceanographic equipment from the ground up. And as leaders in our industries, we provide ongoing support and parts services to ensure that our equipment is never short of the best.
At SeeScan, you'll be part of a group of people who bring passion and energy into everything they do. We value the individual contributions all of our employees make and invest in the tools and training they need to find success and professional growth. We do our best to empower the right people to take on new opportunities, and our culture promotes transparency, integrity, and continuous learning.
Notes
- No recruiters, contractors, or consultants, please
- No relocation assistance or visa sponsorships available for this position
- SeeScan is an Equal Opportunity Employer