Hardware & Embedded System – Electronics Technician

Job Description - Hardware & Embedded System - Electronics Technician

Job Purpose

To support the R&D Embedded team in the assembly, testing, debugging, modification, repair and validation of electronic circuits, PCBs and cable assemblies used in ROVs and other advanced marine-electronics systems. The technician must be comfortable with fine-pitch SMD and through-hole components, prototype and high-density boards, and must be able to identify and resolve hardware issues independently.

Key Requirement: Hands-on expertise is the primary requirement for this position. Candidates with strong practical PCB soldering, rework, testing and component-level debugging skills will be given high preference.

Key Responsibilities

PCB Assembly & Soldering

• Perform high-quality SMD and through-hole soldering on prototype and production PCBs.
• Solder and rework fine-pitch ICs - QFN, QFP, SOIC, TSSOP, 0603 / 0402 and other small SMD components.
• Perform component replacement, wiring modifications and PCB rework.
• Inspect solder joints for defects such as bridging, insufficient solder, cold joints, lifted pads, tombstoning and solder shorts.
• Perform PCB cleaning and post-solder inspection.
• Handle sensitive electronic components using appropriate ESD protection procedures.

Hardware Debugging & Troubleshooting

• Perform component-level troubleshooting and debugging of analog, digital, power, communication and mixed-signal circuits.
• Identify faults using multimeters, oscilloscopes, electronic loads, DC power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers and other laboratory equipment.
• Trace power rails and signal paths to identify faulty components and circuit-level issues.
• Troubleshoot problems such as power supply failures, short circuits and excessive current consumption, incorrect voltage levels, communication failures, component overheating, signal integrity issues, intermittent faults and PCB assembly defects.
• Perform systematic root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.

PCB Rework & Repair

• Carry out component-level PCB repair and rework on prototype and assembled boards.
• Replace damaged or defective ICs, capacitors, resistors, connectors, diodes, MOSFETs, regulators and other components.
• Perform pad / track repair and wire modifications where required.
• Use hot-air rework stations, soldering stations, preheaters / hot plates, microscopes and other rework equipment safely.
• Support R&D engineers during prototype modifications and design validation.

Testing & Validation

• Perform functional testing of electronic circuits and PCB assemblies according to test procedures.
• Conduct power-up testing, current-consumption measurements, load testing, communication testing and voltage / signal verification.
• Assist engineers in prototype validation and debugging.
• Record test results, observations, failures and corrective actions.
• Support environmental and reliability testing when required.

Cable Harness, Sealing & ROV Integration

• Build and terminate cable harnesses, tethers and connector assemblies, including crimping, heat-shrink and sealing of waterproof / underwater connectors.
• Carry out potting, encapsulation and conformal coating of electronics as per process instructions.
• Integrate electronics into ROV sub-assemblies (pressure housings, thrusters, cameras, lights, sensors) and support system-level, tank and field trials.

R&D Support

• Work closely with hardware design engineers during prototype development and bring-up.
• Assist in PCB assembly and testing of new designs.
• Support engineering teams in troubleshooting field-returned or failed boards.
• Provide practical feedback on PCB assembly, solderability, component placement, accessibility and reworkability.
• Maintain proper documentation of modifications and rework performed on prototype boards.

Lab, Inventory & Quality

• Maintain the lab inventory of components, consumables and tools; raise material requests and support BOM kitting with Stores.
• Keep the electronics lab organised and ESD-safe, and keep track of equipment calibration and maintenance.
• Follow quality procedures, using IPC workmanship standards as the reference for solder joint acceptance.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Diploma in Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Electrical or a related field.
• Experience: 1-3 years of hands-on experience in PCB assembly, soldering, electronics testing and hardware debugging preferred. Freshers with exceptional practical soldering and debugging skills may also be considered.
• Preferred Experience: Prototype PCBs and R&D hardware; fine-pitch SMD soldering and PCB rework; component-level fault diagnosis; debugging power electronics and communication interfaces.
• Industry Exposure: Marine electronics, robotics, ROVs, industrial electronics or embedded systems will be an added advantage.

Skills & Competencies

Technical / Functional Skills (Must Have)

• Excellent SMD and through-hole soldering, including fine-pitch ICs
• Strong PCB debugging and component-level fault-finding
• Good understanding of electronic components and their operation
• Reading and understanding schematics, PCB layouts and datasheets
• Working knowledge of digital and analog circuits, DC-DC converters and power supplies, microcontrollers and embedded hardware
• Interfaces: UART, RS232, RS485, I2C, SPI and Ethernet
• Connectors, protection circuits and power distribution
• Measurement of voltage, current, resistance, continuity and power
• Effective use of multimeter and oscilloscope for hardware debugging
• PCB inspection and rework techniques
• Cable harness making, crimping and connector termination
• ESD handling and electronic laboratory safety

Tools & Equipment

• Soldering station, hot-air rework station, hot plate / preheater
• Digital multimeter, oscilloscope, LCR meter
• DC power supply, electronic load, function / signal generator, logic analyzer
• Microscope or magnifying inspection system
• Crimping tools, wire strippers and heat gun
• ESD-safe workstations and tools

Good to Have

• Potting / encapsulation and conformal coating
• Flashing firmware on microcontroller boards (Arduino / STM32)
• Safe handling of Li-ion battery packs, motors and ESCs

Behavioral / Soft Skills

• Analytical and systematic approach to fault finding
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently on hardware failures
• Good documentation skills
• Ability to work effectively with R&D engineers; able to handle requests from multiple engineers
• Ownership and reliability
• Willingness to work on prototype and experimental hardware
• Willingness to support tank / field trials and occasional travel
• Strong safety and ESD awareness

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• First-pass yield of assembled PCBs and harnesses (defects caught at inspection / testing)
• Turnaround time for assembly, rework and debug requests vs agreed timelines
• Rework or failure rate attributable to workmanship
• Time-to-diagnose and fix rate for failed and field-returned boards
• Completeness and accuracy of test records, rework logs and modification documentation
• Lab inventory accuracy; no builds blocked by missed material requests
• Compliance with ESD and safety audits

Performance Expectations - the candidate should be able to independently:

• Assemble prototype PCBs with high-quality soldering
• Inspect PCBs and identify assembly defects
• Power up and safely test new hardware
• Debug hardware faults down to component level
• Perform SMD component replacement and PCB rework
• Use laboratory instruments to diagnose electrical and signal-level problems
• Document failures, modifications, test results and corrective actions
• Support engineers during prototype development and hardware validation