RF Technician II/Team Lead

Mini-Circuits designs, manufactures and distributes integrated circuits, modules, and sub-systems for high-performance radio frequency (RF) and microwave applications.  With design, sales, and manufacturing locations in over 30 countries, Mini-Circuits’ products are used in a range of wired and wireless communications applications. Our products are also used in detection, measurement, and imaging applications, including military communication, guidance, and electronic countermeasure systems, commercial, scientific, military land, sea, and aircraft; automotive systems, medical systems, and industrial test equipment.  

Mini-Circuits sells its products to over 20,000 customers globally through our direct sales force, applications engineering staff, and sales representatives, as well as through our extensive website. 

Position Summary:

The RF Technician II / Team Leader is responsible for supporting the HFM MFG Line Manager with the department’s engineers and technicians with the alignment and testing of RF through mmW products, up to 110 GHz, by employing proper RF, MW and mmW tuning methods to align and test integrated microwave assemblies and microstrip based passive and active components. This role also provides day-to-day team leadership to the RF Technician I to ensure priorities are clear, materials and documentation are ready, workmanship meets quality expectations, and production flow is maintained. 

Salary Range: $33.65-45.67 per hour

Job Function:

• Serve as the day-to-day Team Leader who assists the manager with the follow up on issues that may arise.
• Align and test RF through mmW amplifiers, mixers, multipliers, switches, filters, couplers, attenuators, phase shifters, limiters and other related components using the latest PNA-X vector network analyzers
• Test, tune and troubleshoot integrated assemblies when required.
• Assist in generating tuning patterns, component value changes and other design related improvements that improve manufacturability.
• Maintain high quality, production yield, and production throughput
• Prepare test reports and data summaries.
• Operate and maintain the calibration of all test equipment, including PNA-X vector network analyzers and other associated equipment.
• Maintain a clean Engineering department laboratory bench space and support calibration schedules for bench equipment.
• Utilize and train department technicians in use of latest ATE software, including MCL’s PNA software.
• Support incoming and in-process inspection activities by reviewing workmanship, identifying nonconformances, communicating issues, and helping ensure inspection criteria are understood and consistently applied.
• Coordinate kitting readiness by verifying material availability, documentation, tooling, and special handling requirements before work is released to assembly or test.
• Provide technical guidance to assembly personnel on build sequence, workmanship expectations, handling precautions, and escalation of assembly-related issues.
• Support production test execution by helping assign test priorities, reviewing test data for issues, escalating failures, and working with engineering to drive corrective actions.
• Interface with inspection and assembly to troubleshoot and test issues.
• Support the engineering team in ISO audits and participate in internal and external audits.

 Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Daily supervision of member activities to support and execute on the work schedule provided 
• Move In and Move out the approved production runs via AS/400
• Review with Product Engineer to provide feedback and notes when doing “E” and “H” runs
• Issue, Review and approve ECO related to HFM production
• Support and initiate continuous improvement and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Departmental approval of test procedure and work instruction
• Review and recommend need for overtime as required to complete urgent productions runs
• Review, accept and release tested production runs and save production test data
• Add, delete and/or move operations on production runs from kit room through final inspection asrequired.

The duties, responsibilities and expectations described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the member, within the scope of the position.

Qualifications:

• Associate degree in Electrical Engineering + 5 years of experience in mmW Product Design/Test or related field OR
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering + 3 years of experience in mmW Product Design/Test or related field

Required coursework (at least 3 of the following):

• Amplifier Circuit Design (Low Noise and Power)
• Filter/Network Analysis and Synthesis Techniques
• Electromagnetic Theory
• System Analysis
• Digital Communication and Modulation Techniques
• S-Parameter based Network Analysis

Job Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

• Previous experience in microwave and milli-meter wave hardware test and measurement to at least 40 GHz.  Must be capable of understanding if measured results are correct and agree with theory or expectations.
• Must have demonstrated advanced PNA-X vector network analyzer experience.
• Must have demonstrated hands-on ability to assemble, tune, test and troubleshoot hardware in a laboratory environment.
• Must have basic knowledge of surface mount and microelectronic chip-and-wire manufacturing methods and techniques, including soldering, wedge bonding, silver epoxy application, expansion coefficient and thermal conductivity of materials, plating, hard and soft substrate materials, printed circuit board manufacturing methods and techniques.
• Practical knowledge in the test and measurement of MMIC, LTCC and ferrite core and wire products including couplers, dividers, baluns, transformers, mixers and amplifiers.
• Ability to read and understand schematic diagrams and assembly drawings.
• Professional and positive approach, self-motivated, strong in building relationships, team player, dynamic, creative with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Desire to excel in a high volume, multiple simultaneous project and tight deadline environment, with priorities that may change unexpectedly. 
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Ability and desire to mentor junior technicians.
• Demonstrated ability to lead daily floor activities, communicate priorities clearly, and coordinate work across inspection, kitting, assembly, and production test functions.
• Strong attention to detail and quality mindset, with the ability to identify workmanship, material, documentation, or test-related issues and escalate them appropriately.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Cultural Focus

• Displays enthusiasm and Passion for their work
• Works to the standard of Uncompromising Quality by meeting or exceeding stated objectives and embracing continuous improvement
• Exercises sound Business Judgement, ensuring that efforts are on track with the Company’s goals
• Operates with the mindset of Customer Obsession – by meeting or exceeding expectations to both internal and external customers
• Takes Accountability by taking ownership and accepting responsibility for their conduct and contributions
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency and accomplishes tasks with Speed and attention to detail
• Cooperates, collaborates and contributes to shared goals with a strong sense of Teamwork
• Conducts themselves with Honesty & Integrity and treats all members with Trust & Respect

Additional Requirements/Skills

• Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment
• Ability and willingness to abide by Company’s Code of Conduct
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive for extended periods of time
• Occasional travel, some overnight, as required

Disclaimer: The listed qualifications and requirements for each position are intended as guidelines.  Mini-Circuits reserves the right to hire outside of these guidelines at Management’s discretion.

Mini-Circuits is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, gender identity, gender dysphoria, pregnancy-related condition, and domestic violence victim status or protected class characteristic, or any other protected characteristic as established by federal or state law.