SMT Programmer

Position title:  SMT Programmer – Yamaha Pick-and-Place

Position Summary

The SMT Programmer is responsible for creating, optimizing, and maintaining production programs for Yamaha SMT pick-and-place equipment supporting high-mix PCB assembly operations. This is a hands-on, floor-focused role responsible for ensuring programs are accurate, efficient, production-ready, and capable of supporting quality, throughput, and on-time delivery requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Create, modify, verify, and maintain Yamaha pick-and-place programs using customer BOMs, centroid/XY data, Gerber/CAD files, assembly drawings, and approved documentation.
• Develop and maintain component libraries, package data, vision parameters, pickup/placement settings, fiducials, offsets, and feeder assignments.
• Optimize machine programs, feeder layouts, placement sequences, and line balancing to improve cycle time, throughput, and equipment utilization.
• Perform program validation and first-build support to ensure correct component, location, polarity, orientation, and placement accuracy before production release.
• Troubleshoot SMT programming, feeder, nozzle, vision-recognition, placement, and machine-related issues affecting production or product quality.
• Support NPI builds and engineering changes by creating or updating programs and ensuring revisions remain aligned with released manufacturing documentation.
• Work closely with Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and SMT Production to resolve defects and continuously improve placement performance and first-pass yield.
• Maintain disciplined program revision control, backups, documentation, and change records in accordance with company and applicable AS9100 quality-system requirements.

Qualifications

• Previous hands-on experience programming Yamaha SMT pick-and-place equipment strongly preferred.
• Candidates should have practical knowledge of SMT component packages, feeders, nozzles, vision systems, fiducials, polarity/orientation, BOMs, centroid data, Gerber/CAD data, and PCB assembly processes.
• Experience in high-mix electronics or aerospace/defense manufacturing is preferred.