Assistant Manager, SMT & Backend Engineering

XP Power is a global leader in providing essential power solutions to the Industrial Technology, Healthcare and Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment sectors. We design and manufacture power controllers, the essential hardware component in every piece of electrical equipment that converts power from the electricity grid into the right form for equipment to function. Listed as a FTSE 250 company on the London Stock Exchange we are a fast-growing business, serving our global blue-chip customer base from 29 locations across Europe, North America, and Asia. We are extremely proud and committed to our culture that values Customer Focus, Flexibility, Knowledge, Speed, and Integrity. Joining our team means you’ll work in a high performing global organisation where employees collaborate and strive to make XP Power the first-choice power solutions provider delivering the ultimate experience for our customers and our people.

Role Purpose

Responsible for leading SMT and backend manufacturing processes (wave soldering and conformal coating), owning equipment performance, ensuring high quality, and driving continuous process improvement to support mass production and NPI.

Key Responsibilities

SMT & Backend Process Ownership

• Own and optimize SMT, wave soldering, and conformal coating processes for new and existing products.
• Develop process parameters, SOPs, and control plans to ensure stable, zero-defect production.
• Lead process qualification, validation, and capability studies (MSA, Cp/Cpk, GR&R).

• Equipment & Maintenance Management

• Own SMT and backend equipment performance, including screen printers, SPI, pick-and-place, reflow ovens, AOI, wave soldering, cleaning, and selective coating systems.
• Develop and manage preventive maintenance and calibration schedules.
• Troubleshoot equipment and process issues, perform root-cause analysis, and drive corrective actions.
• Manage equipment spare parts and ensure targets for OEE, CPH, and quality are met.

• Conformal Coating & Wave Soldering

• Develop, validate, and optimize conformal coating processes (selective, spray, dip, manual).
• Program and optimize selective coating machines (e.g., Nordson, Asymtek, PVA).
• Ensure robust wave soldering processes, defect prevention, and effective rework control.

• NPI & Cross-Functional Support

• Support NPI builds with full SMT and backend equipment setup, programming, and process readiness.
• Review stencil design, panelization, fiducials, and manufacturability constraints.
• Work closely with production, quality, and engineering teams to ensure smooth transitions to mass production.

• Quality & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with IPC-A-610, IPC-7351, and internal quality standards.
• Lead investigations and CAPA for SMT and backend defects (bridging, tombstoning, opens, voids, coating issues).
• Support customer and supplier audits and qualifications.

• Automation & Digital Manufacturing

• Support MES/SAP integration, machine connectivity, SPC, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Analyze machine data and SPC trends to drive continuous improvement.

• People Leadership

• Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to technicians and engineers.
• Promote disciplined process control and strong quality culture on the shop floor.

• Strong hands-on knowledge of SMT, wave soldering, and conformal coating processes.

• Experience owning SMT and backend equipment and driving process improvements.
• Strong problem-solving, data analysis, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.

XP Power provides a safe and healthy working environment that is stimulating and collaborative, where employees are empowered to make a real difference. We place our people at the heart of everything we do. We understand that if we provide our people with the ultimate experience, they will provide the ultimate experience to our customers.